[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/crikey/)

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# crikey

interjection (crikey)

«crikey» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(informal, euphemism) a cry of surprise or alarm, like «wow!» or «goodness!»; originally a soft stand-in for «Christ». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#m1)

### In the lessons

Mild, friendly, old-fashioned British and Australian exclamation; heard in comics, children's books, wildlife shows. Safe in most company.

### Examples

- Crikey, that's a big spider! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#x1)
- Crikey, I forgot my homework! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#x2)
- Crikey, look at the time! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#x3)
- «Crikey!» said the explorer when he saw the crocodile. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#x4)
- Crikey, it's hot today. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#x5)
- Crikey Moses, what was that noise? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/#x6)

### Note

Mild and safe. Nobody thinks of its religious origin today. Sounds British or Australian.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «crikey» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/crikey/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«crikey» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/crikey.html) on Mova free.