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Pructus Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary
by George
Then Laura heard a strange, low, distant sound.
“What’s that!” she said.
Pa listened.
“Cattle, by George!” he said. "Must be the cattle herds going north to Fort Dodge."
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Is the expression "by George" (1) some kind of special idiom meaning something other than some one named George? For example, meaning "Judging from the sound".
Or, (2) it just plainly means that the cattle is being herded by someone named George?
(edited to resolve formatting problems)
“What’s that!” she said.
Pa listened.
“Cattle, by George!” he said. "Must be the cattle herds going north to Fort Dodge."
***
Is the expression "by George" (1) some kind of special idiom meaning something other than some one named George? For example, meaning "Judging from the sound".
Or, (2) it just plainly means that the cattle is being herded by someone named George?
(edited to resolve formatting problems)
Top answer
Pructus Is the expression "by George" (1) some kind of special idiom meaning something other than some one named George? For example, meaning "Judging from the sound". Or, (2) it just plainly means that the cattle is being herded by someone named George?
- Pructus Is the expression "by George" (1) some kind of special idiom meaning something other than some one named George?
- For example, meaning "Judging from the sound".
- Or, (2) it just plainly means that the cattle is being herded by someone named George?
- It's neither.
- By George!
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4 Answers
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PructusIt's neither.
Is the expression "by George" (1) some kind of special idiom meaning something other than some one named George? For example, meaning "Judging from the sound".
Or, (2) it just plainly means that the cattle is being herded by someone named George?
By George! is just an expression one utters whe
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I think it is just a euphemism for 'By ***!' It is a sort of 'Goodness me!' exclamation. Quite old fashioned and if you said it today it would be for comic effect.
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