blimey! excl.
an excl. denoting surprise or disbelief.
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Sportsman (Melbourne) 29 Aug. 2/6: ‘Why. that was Moses Lazarus himself’ [...] ‘Blimy d’you think I didn't know it?’. | |
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant. | |
| Autobiog. of a Gipsey 413: Blimy! we’d most bust ourselves a-larfin’. | |
| Mixed Humanity 26: As the dice were being thrown, he kept exclaiming, in a meaningless way, ‘O bli’ me! O bli’ me!’. | |
| Tales of Mean Streets (1983) 55: An’ Skulky . . . blimy . . . ’e’s done me too! | |
| Child of the Jago (1982) 46: O wot ’orrid langwidge! It’s shocking, blimey. | |
| Man of Straw 286: Blime! I’ll give evidence again him, sowelpme I will! | |
| Tony Drum 46: ‘Bli’ me!’ cried Simmy. | |
| Marvel XIV:348 July 2: ‘Bloomey!’ he cried. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Actors’ Boarding House (1906) 274: Blime, if it’s not our little pal from the burlesque show. | |
| Fact’ry ’Ands 89: ’Twas Hoggy’s [...] roun’-th’-’ouses, but, blue bli’ me, who was ther man in ’em? | |
| Sporting Times 27 June 1/4: All they [three Sydney larrikins] could say was ‘Ryebuck!’ (when they wor pleased), ‘Straight wire?’ (when they wor doubtful), and ‘Blimy!’ (when they wor disgusted). | |
| ‘Them was the Days’ in Jarrahland Jingles 168: I’ll never leave yer, strike me blue, I won’t so ’elp me, bli me! | |
| A Rogue’s Luck (1931) 161: Blime, it was dead crook ter leave th’ moll in th’ lurch. | |
 | pastiche of Mutt & Jeff 13 Sept. [synd. strip] Blime me, I shall capture ’em to-day! | |
| Sport (Adelaide) 15 Nov. 7/4: ‘Blime,’ said one to the other, ‘we’ve shot all the feathers off him’. | |
| Honk! 18 Jan. 7/2: ‘Bli’me, guv’ner!’ said the would-be soldier with a look of disgust. | |
| Snare of the Road 101: Blimey, fellow, this ain’t nothing to what we expects right after Christmas. | |
| Union Jack 5 May 1: Blime me, no! | |
| Black Gang 273: ‘Blimey!’ muttered Flash Jim; ‘is it the police?’. | |
| Sun. Times (Perth) 30 Dec. 45/7: ‘Bli’ me!’ he ejaculated, ‘screw the old pot with the crook minces!’. | |
| Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld) 3 June 9/4: ‘Blime,’ said Hogan. | |
| There Ain’t No Justice 10: ‘Got Tommy’s tea yet?’ ‘Blimey, watchew expect?’. | |
| Night and the City 73: You tells anybody you just wants any sort of job, blimey that means nuffink. | |
| They Die with Their Boots Clean 2: We rounds the bend and Sergeant Tuck says ‘Blimey’. | |
| Bluey & Curley 5 Apr. [synd. cartoon strip] Blimey [...] I ain’t got [...] a bit of baccy on me!! | |
| Three-Ha’Pence to the Angel 18: Bloomy, there it comes. | |
| letter 8 Jan. in Charters I (1995) 279: Blimey, ’e was a ’eartless one! | |
| Cockney 268: Bligh! That’s it! | |
| Saved Scene i: Bligh! yer ain’ better ’ave. | |
| Adolescent Boys of East London (1969) 65: But I don’t argue with him. Blimey, he’s my dad. | |
| Family Arsenal 118: Blimey, they even put garlic in the cornflakes. | |
| Train to Hell 54: After the game we were kept in the ground for an hour. Blimey! No wonder football fans riot. | |
| Guardian 24 Feb. 3: Blimey, this is getting complicated. | |
| Soothing Music for Stray Cats 79: I thought, blimey, this bleeder’s older than me. | |
| Sun. Times Mag. 19 Dec. 10/2: Blimey, there’s Robert. | |
| New European 11-17 July 48/2: Bimey! I thought to myself. | |
| Empty Wigs (t/s) 910: Blimey that smile! |
In exclamations
(Aus./N.Z.) a general excl., used as a sign of the relief of nervous tension.
| N.Z. Sl. | |
| I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 230/2: blimey charley! (blimey Joe! or blimey practically anyone) an exclamation of no particular meaning. | |
![[NZ]](/static/img/flags/nz.png "New Zealand") | Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 15/2: blimey, Charlie! indicating friendly relief; obs. | |
| Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988]. |