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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

Gordon Bennett! excl.

also Bennett!

[either f. James Gordon Bennett (1795–1872), the founding editor of the New York Herald, or his similarly named son (1841–1918); or Gordon Bennett, promoter of motor- and air-races before 1914]

a euph. for gorblimey! excl.

1937		J. Curtis You’re in the Racket, Too 130: Gordon Bennett. He wasn’t half tired.
1968		J. Speight ‘The Funeral’ Till Death Us Do Part [TV script] Oh, Gordon Bennett! But it’s so silly!
1975		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 115: I [...] told her it would be a pleasure to drive her home. To Ilford? Gordon Bennett!
1982		P. Theroux London Embassy 70: ‘Gordon Bennett!’ Jocko said, and in spite of myself I laughed out loud at the exclamation.
1983		A. Payne ‘Get Daley!’ Minder [TV script] 66: Bennett!
2001		OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 Gordon Bennett n. Expression of surprise/disbelief. f. ‘concealment’ of the Cockney expression ‘Gawd (God) Almighty’.