British exclamation of surprise, from ‘upon my word’ (I swear).
My word
Etymology & History
British exclamation of surprise, from 'upon my word' (I swear). Victorian middle/upper-class expression. Less common now but still recognized. Shows British class stratification in exclamations - working-class used 'blimey', middle-class 'my word'.
Word Details
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Region
General British
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Era
Victorian
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Language
Moderate
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Formality
Slang
Categories:
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Anglotopia's Dictionary of British English 2nd Edition
British Slang from A to Zed
By Jonathan Thomas
📚 Over 2,000+ British Slang Definitions!