intj

golly

GO-lee

Golly (intj) means a mild, old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or delight. Example: “Golly, I didn't expect to see you here!”

intj

A mild, old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or delight.

"Golly, I didn't expect to see you here!"

"Golly, that was a close call."

How to use golly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, polite way of saying "wow" or "gosh" without swearing.

When to use it

Sounds quaint or old-fashioned in modern speech; mostly used for comic or nostalgic effect.

Common pairings

golly gosh well, golly

Word forms

gollied past tense, gollies plural, gollies plural, gollies plural, gollies singular

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Fill the gap

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_____, I didn't expect to see you here!

Etymology

An 18th-century softened stand-in for "God," likely shortened from an oath like "God's body."

· First attested 1700

Class of 1700 golly joined the language around 1700.

ache argh battleship bootleg Boswell

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Rhymes for golly

Olly jolly lolly dolly folly molly holly Polly Bolly rolly Tolly woolly

See all rhymes for golly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “golly” mean?

The word “golly” means a mild, old-fashioned exclamation of surprise or delight. In plain terms, an old-fashioned, polite way of saying "wow" or "gosh" without swearing.

How do you pronounce “golly”?

“Golly” is pronounced GO-lee (/ˈɡɒli/ in IPA).

How do you use “golly” in a sentence?

Here is “golly” used in a sentence: “Golly, I didn't expect to see you here!”

What part of speech is “golly”?

“Golly” is an intj.

Where does the word “golly” come from?

The word “golly” dates back to around 1700. An 18th-century softened stand-in for "God," likely shortened from an oath like "God's body.".