gosh
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(oh) (my) gosh!
A mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. ("Gosh" here is a substitution for "God," the use of which in an oath can be considered blasphemous.) Gosh, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? Oh my gosh! That cyclist nearly hit me! My gosh, Bill! Would it kill you to take out the trash once in a while?
by guess and by gosh
Without careful planning; relying on guesswork and luck. He just throws his essays together by guess and by gosh, but he still manages to get good grades on them. We don't have much to work with, but by guess and by gosh, we're going to figure out a way to save our business! Have you given any thought to your future, or do you intend to live your life by guess and by gosh, hoping for the best?
by guess or by gosh
By any means; without careful planning; relying on guesswork and luck. We don't have much to work with, but by guess or by gosh, we're going to figure out a way to save our business! He just throws his essays together by guess or by gosh, but he still manages to get good grades on them. Have you given any thought to your future, or do you intend to live your life by guess or by gosh, hoping for the best?
for gosh sakes
A mild oath of exasperation, annoyance, frustration, anger, or surprise. Would you let me finish my story, for gosh sakes? Oh for gosh sakes, I just had the car fixed and now you've put a dent in it! For gosh sakes! I haven't seen you in years!
gosh almighty
An exclamation of surprise, shock, frustration, anger, or annoyance. A euphemistic variant of "God almighty." Gosh almighty! If we'd stopped the car one second later that train would have hit us! I know you've had a long day at work, but gosh almighty, is it too much to ask for you to take out the trash? Gosh almighty, it's hot as the dickens out here!
gosh knows
A minced oath of "God knows."
1. No one knows. (A variant of "God knows.") Gosh knows how long it will take for my application to be processed. A: "How do you think you did on your exam?" B: "Gosh knows!" There's a pipe leaking? Yikes, gosh knows how long that's been going on!
2. It is absolutely true, certain, or definite (that something is true or the case). Gosh knows I need to do well on this test, or I can kiss my scholarship goodbye! What are you, a fool? Gosh knows they don't let freshmen geeks like you into their club. Now that there are criminal charges against that man, gosh knows he'll never work in this town again!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
by guess and by gosh
and by guess and by gollyRur. by estimating; without careful planning. Jane: Did you have a plan for putting up that toolshed? Tom: Nope, we just sort of did it by guess and by gosh. Grandma always made dresses by guess and by golly, without using a pattern, and they always turned out just fine.
For Pete's sake!
and For pity's sake!; For the love of Mike!; For goodness sake!; For gosh sake!; For heaven('s) sake!a mild exclamation of surprise or shock. For Pete's sake! How've ya been? For pity's sake! Ask the man in out of the cold!
See also: for
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
For Pete’s sake!
and For pity’s sake! and For the love of Mike! exclam. Good grief! For Pete’s sake! Is that you Charlie? For pity’s sake! Ask the man in out of the cold!
See also: for
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.