blowed adj.1
used as a euph. for damned adj. in general mild oaths of surprise, shock, annoyance, e.g. — be blowed.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Morn. Chron. (London) 10 Mar. 4/3: Say, Jem, I’m blowed if the work in my Vorkhouse ant harder nor the work in the Compter, and I’m blowed if I goes home. | |
| Belfast News Letter 20 Jan. 2/1: The prisoner struck at him, saying, ‘I’m blowed if I an’t able for you, at any rate’. | |
| ‘Doctors’ Commons’ in Slater Dickens’ Journalism I (1994) 91: Others remonstrating with the said Thomas Sludberry on the impropriety of his conduct, the said Thomas Sludberry repeated the aforesaid expression, ‘You be blowed.’ . | |
| N. Wales Chron. 17 Mar. 1/6: If lords coats are like that, I’m blowed if I vant any. | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Satirist & Sporting Chron. (Sydney) Feb. 4/3: If you collar me, I’m blow’d if I don’t muzzle you. | |
| ‘Old English Bull John’ in Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 72: The people of England [...] declared aloud they would see them blowed first. | |
| (con. 1840s–50s) London Labour and London Poor I 327/1: Will you buy ’em, sir? No! well, then, you be blowed! | |
| Wild Boys of London I 84/2: ‘Let it soak in.’ ‘Soak be blowed, I want to be off.’. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | ‘Vagrants and Vagrancy’ in Appleton’s Journal (N.Y.) 6 Sept. 308/1: Respectin’ your note, cheap literater be blowed! | |
| Dick Temple I 253: ‘I’ve a blowed good mind,’ said Mr. Eggshells (only he used a stronger word than blowed.). | |
| ‘Blooming Aesthetic’ in Rag 30 Sept. n.p.: A slosher-of-pals, / A spooning-with-gals, / An ought-to-be-blowed young man. | |
| Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday 3 May 3/3: ‘And I’m blowed if I’ve got a hidear!’. | |
| Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Apr. 18/2: ‘[W]e are cloth merchants; see […], we can give security.’ ‘Security be blowed!’ cried the landlord – ‘now just you clear. I’ll take no sackcloth for my hashes.’. | |
| Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 28 Dec. 2/4: ‘Wants a beer, does she [...] well, she can want and be blowed’. | |
| Coburg Leader (Vic.) 17 Nov. 2/7: Joe 'Binch says he could hold in a horse, but ‘blow’d if I could manage Miss — when she took bad coming home’. | |
| Street in Suburbia 67: ‘You be blowed!’ said the Iconoclast. ‘Who’re you?’. | |
| ‘Harry on ’Arry’ in Punch 17 Aug. in (2006) 24: I can see it as plain as be blowed. | |
| Marvel XIV:348 July 2: ‘Rats be blowed!’ he snarled. | |
| Hist. of Mr Polly (1946) 142: Don’t see it, be blowed! | |
| Shearer’s Colt 48: He said that be blowed for a yarn, how could any man eat two pounds worth of grub at one sitting! | |
| Send for Paul Temple (1992) 161: Yes, but I’m blowed if I can see the switch. | |
| Bluey & Curley 30 May [synd. cartoon strip] History be blowed!! | |
![[NZ]](/static/img/flags/nz.png "New Zealand") | Gunner Inglorious (1974) 138: Aw, no. I just can’t be blowed. | |
| Come in Spinner (1960) 24: Hero be blowed. He’s a choco. | |
| Hang On a Minute, Mate (1963) 191: Yes, but ... But be blowed. | |
| Wind & Monkey (2013) [ebook] How did I ever find her? Blowed if I know. | |
| Guardian 29 Apr. 3: New politics be blowed. |
In exclamations
often constr. with if to emphasise refusal or negation; a general excl. of surprise, shock etc.
 | Extractor Jan. 320/2: I ’ll be blowed if I know whether my nose be on my face. | |
| J. Banim Smuggler I 230: I be blowed, but I ’m afeard all ’s not right with the poor gentlefolk. | |
| Bk of Sports 53: I am blowed if I should [i.e. like wrestling] — but every one to his liking. | |
| Cockney Adventures 4 Nov. 2: I say, mother, look here – I’m blowed if there ar’n’t Bet Slobkins vith a lot ov swells in a shay! [Ibid.] 30 Dec. 72: I’m blowed if this here ain’t a rum go. | |
| Pickings from N.O. Picayune (1847) 101: I’m blow’d if you ain’t either slew’d, mad, or in love. | |
| Mysteries of London II (2nd series) 19: Blowed if it ain’t Tom Rain. | |
| Recollections of G. Hamlyn (1891) 27: Blowed if I don’t think it the most honest action he ever did in his life. | |
| Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 4: BE-BLOWED, a windy exclamation equivalent to an oath. | |
| Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 151/2: I’m blowed if this ’ere’s a winning game after all; is it? | |
| Seven Curses of London 23: I’m blowed if she’s all that better as I was kidded to believe she would be. | |
| Slaver’s Adventures 137: I can speak for meself, and I’m blowed if it be me. | |
| Five Years’ Penal Servitude 244: Blowed, old man, if we don’t go to Paris. | |
| ‘’Arry on ’igh Art’ in Punch 1 Feb. 42/1: I’m blowed if I’m fly to its game. | |
| ‘Atmospheric Deception’ Little Bk of Trib. Verse (1901) 171: ‘Well, I’ll be blowed,’ he sadly moaned. | |
| Bristol Magpie 12 Oct. 13/2: ‘If I carn’t go to Heaven I’ll be blowed if I’ll go anywhere else’. | |
| ‘’Arry on a ’ouseboat’ in Punch 15 Aug. 76: I’m blowed if this bunkum don’t make me inclined to turn Radical rat. | |
| in N.Y. Press 20 Oct. in Stallman (1966) 78: ‘Well, I’ll be blowed,’ said Wrinkles. | |
| Liza of Lambeth (1966) 75: Well, I am busted! [Ibid.] 76 : Garn! You are a bloomin’ cuckoo, I’m blowed! | |
| ‘In Ambush’ in Complete Stalky & Co. (1987) 31: ‘Turkey, you’d better covet a butterfly-net from somewhere.’ ‘I’m blowed if I do,’ said McTurk, simply, with immense feeling. | |
| Pitcher in Paradise 94: Well, I’m blowed if I won’t have one cert today. | |
| Dock Rats of N.Y. (2006) 104: I’m blowed if you don’t get me, but you’re entitled to win. | |
| Aus. Felix (1971) 253: ‘Well, I’m blowed!’ was all she could ejaculate. ‘Blowed! . . . that’s what I am.’. | |
| ‘Langwidge’ in Backblock Ballads 16: ‘If they ain’t blanky swine,’ ’e ses, ‘I’m blowed!’ the flamin cows! | |
| ‘Narrative of Commander W.D. Hornby’ in Awfully Big Adventure 95: Went over twice to see that Marine bloke [...] and blowed if he wasn’t in Town each time. | |
| Jim Maitland (1953) 139: Well, I’m blowed! | |
| ‘Trade’ in Last Poems 92: Sir Hugh de Broklehurst / Staggered, and cried, ‘Surely that isn’t my / Late blushing bride!’ / Into the tea-shop / Forthwith he strode, / Looked at her closely / And said he’d be blowed. | |
| ‘Growing up in Chad Street’ in Lehmann Penguin New Writing No. 30 112: The man in the bowler hat stood up and said: Well, I’ll be blowed. | |
| Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 199: Aunt Dahlia well-I’ll-be-blowed! | |
![[Ire]](/static/img/flags/ire.png "Ireland") | (con. 1940s) Borstal Boy 297: Very ’ard to understand ’em – blowed if we could. | |
| Jeeves in the Offing 85: ‘Well, I’ll be blowed!’ he said, when I had placed the facts before him. | |
| Saved Scene v: I’m blowed if I’m goin’ a put meself out if yer can’t co-operate. | |
| Mavericks (1968) 151: ‘I’ll be blowed,’ muttered Old Jake. | |
| Much Obliged, Jeeves 168: Well, I’ll be blowed. | |
| Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 88: ‘What programme was it for?’ ‘Blowed if I can remember.’. | |
| Scouting for Boys in Best Radio Plays (1984) 153: The old trolley! Well I’m blowed! | |
| Blow Your House Down 7: She says three month, but I’m blowed if I can see it. I think it’s a small baby and she’s a hell of a lot further on. | |
| Sudden Times 193: Well, I’ll be blowed. It’s Oliver, said Al. | |
| Indep. Rev. 26 Oct. 5: I’m blowed if I can rescue anyone. | |
| Davey Darling 163: ‘Be blowed if he couldn’t dance as well,’ said Mum. |