by golly
A euphemism for "by God," itself a mild oath short for "I swear by God."
1. Used to emphasize or intensify one's statement. By golly, I'm going to get to the bottom of this if it's the last thing I do! You're going to college, by golly, and that's the last I want to hear about it! We don't have much to work with, but by golly we're going to figure out a way to save our business!
2. Used to emphasize that something one is saying is true. A: "Tom, what happened to the money I gave you? I thought you were going to take it to the bank." B: "I did, by golly! I handed it to the teller myself!" It was a pain in the rear end getting that old lawnmower working again, but by golly I did it! By golly, Mary, I am going to do whatever it takes to prove my love for you!
by guess and by golly
By any means; without careful planning; relying on guesswork and luck. We don't have much to work with, but by guess and by golly, we're going to figure out a way to save our business! He just throws his essays together by guess and by golly, 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 and by golly, hoping for the best?
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 golly
By any means; without careful planning; relying on guesswork and luck. We don't have much to work with, but by guess or by golly, we're going to figure out a way to save our business! He just throws his essays together by guess or by golly, 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 golly, hoping for the best?
golly
interjection An exclamation of surprise, puzzlement, awe, etc. Golly, who knew Sarah was such a great shot with a rifle! That car almost hit us. Golly, if we had stopped any later, we would be been killed! A: "OK, here's a riddle. I am rarely touched but often held, and if you are smart, you'll use me well. What am I?" B: "Golly, that's a stumper. I give up!"
Good golly, Miss Molly!
An exclamation of surprise. Popularized by Little Richard's 1958 song of the same name. Good golly, Miss Molly—you scared me! What's that black mark on the ceiling? Good golly, Miss Molly, it's a spider! Help! Good golly, Miss Molly! I didn't know anyone else was home!
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.
Good golly. Miss Molly!
Inf. Good grief!; Wow! Good golly, Miss Molly! This place is a mess! Good golly, Miss Molly, that's awful!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.