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

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [G](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/g/) / golly

# golly

exclamation (golly!; also «golly gosh», «good golly»)

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

## Everyday

1. (mild, old-fashioned) an exclamation of surprise, delight or shock, used instead of swearing or saying God. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#m1)
2. (childish or humorous) used for fun to sound innocent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#m2)

### In the lessons

A gentle stand-in for «God», now old-fashioned and often funny; used by grandparents, in children's books and cartoons. UK and US.

### Examples

- Golly, that's a big cake! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x1)
- Golly, I didn't know you could juggle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x2)
- "Good golly!" said the old professor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x3)
- Golly gosh, look at the time! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x4)
- The children in the old adventure book keep saying "golly". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x5)
- Golly, it's cold this morning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x6)
- "Golly, thanks!" said the little boy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x7)
- People say "golly" when they're surprised but don't want to swear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/golly/#x8)

### Note

Trap: it is not rude at all; it just sounds old-fashioned. Plain meaning: «wow!»

## On Mova

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