Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a mild excl, often constr. with an adj.; see also phr. below.

1781		Belle’s Stratagem 12: I’ll have you know in whose company you swear, strike me plump!
1781		Belle’s Stratagem 14: Strike my odd joints!
1835		Atkinson’s Casket (Philadelphia, PA) Aug. 447/1: ‘Wine! [...] by Jupiter!’ the reading the labels [...] ‘You have an exquisite taste, strike me!’.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 129/1: Strike me! if this ain’t a rare go.
1874		J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 139: Handing about the brown jug, and ejaculating ‘Damn,’ and ‘So help me’ this and ‘Strike me’ t’other.
1888		J. Runciman Chequers 186: Strike me, I could sweep the blank chimney with you!
1890		Dead Bird (Sydney) 1 Feb. 7/1: ‘O! strike me flat, Moshesh, the bloomin’ duffer's gone and give in! [...] I’m busted’.
1892		E.W. Rogers [perf. Marie Lloyd] G’arn Away 🎵 Yer think yer’ve got me for a mug, well I’m sure, / Strike me up a mulberry, what d’yer take me for, Eh!
1899		Sydney Morn. Herald 29 Apr. 4/5: ‘Well, strike me,’ he exclaimed - and he called to heaven that a variety of disaster might fall upon his limbs - ‘that’s fair’.
1906		E. Dyson Fact’ry ’Ands 185: Strike me, you’d iv thought it had ten thousan’ a year [...] t’ do what it liked with.
1914		Truth (Melbourne) 31 Jan. 6/1: Strike me! What a real salt that skipper is.
1914		E. Pugh Cockney At Home 172: He [...] stands there a-staring and saying, ‘Lumme!’ and ‘Strike me!’.
1921		F. Grose A Rough Y.M. Bloke 26: Strike me! Yer should er seen the feed they slapped up that night!
1927		(con. WW1) P. MacDonald Patrol 92: Strike me a flarin’ ruby . . . ’E’s bugs . . . abserlootely moost!’.
1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 452: ‘Well, strike me!’ said O’Crimnell.
1943		M. Harrison Reported Safe Arrival 11: Cor strike me!
1945		Sun (Sydney) 8 Nov. 4/2: A Woolloomooloo rat / Peered from his drain and saw a lout / Hit a little girl and steal her pennies. / ‘Strike me flat with the plague’ said the rat - ‘if I ever get as mean as that!’.
1966		P. Pinney Restless Men 114: Strike me, what a bloody riot!
1983		J. Byrell (con. 1959) Up the Cross 8: ‘Strike me,’ Brucie the Rooster said.
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 96: God strike me. How is the old bastard anyway?
2001		(con. 1945–6) P. Doyle Devil’s Jump (2008) 176: Strike me, some days it seems like everyone in Sydney’s part of it.
2001		J. Bryant Real Aussies Drive Utes II 90: She’s had her share of hard knocks / And got some scars to show / And heaps and heaps of rattles, / But strike me, can she go!

see strike me silly!

an excl. of surprise, amazement, etc.

1840		F. Essenhigh My Cousin Tom 12: Tom. Strike me bandy!
1897		Capricornian (Rockhampton) 6 Feb. 30: Strike me bandy [...] I’ll crawl up your neck when the race is over.
1899		Worker (Brisbane) 4 Feb. 7/3: ‘Strike me bandy,’ he said, appealing to the crowd. ‘This cove’s off his dot’.
1924		C.J. Dennis ‘’Ave a ’Eart!’ in Rose of Spadgers 73: Strike me bandy, this is bloody war!
1931		Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld) 7 July 11/6: ‘Strike me bandy Missus,’ he says to the barmaid, ‘splash out something with plenty of kick in it’.

a general excl. of surprise, amazement; implies calling on God/the gods to make some concomitant gesture.

1704		Cibber Careless Husband II ii: Strike me Blind, but the Women of Virtue are now grown such Ideots in Love.
c.1707		‘A Just Bargain’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) IV 167: And look here, pray what have I? / But yet part that all must bind, / O shew not, least you strike me Blind.
1766		O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield (1883) 40: For strike me ugly [...] if I should not find as much pleasure in choosing my mistress by the information of a lamp under the clock of St. Dunstan’s.
1777		Sheridan Trip to Scarborough I ii: Amanda is a charming creature – strike me ugly. [Ibid.] II i: Thou art a generous fellow, strike me dumb!
1811		Lex. Balatronicum n.p.: The favourite oaths of the thieves of the present day are, ‘God strike me blind!’ [...].
1819		Salisbury & Winchester Jrnl 8 Feb. 2/4: A woman was charged with having stolen a pair of shoes; whereupon she exclaimed, ‘May God strike me blind this moment if I ever saw the shoes!’.
1828		Lytton Pelham III 291: Ah, Bess, my covess, strike me blind if my sees don’t tout your bingo muns in spite of the darkmans.
1838		Dickens Oliver Twist (1966) 155: ‘Nancy!’ exclaimed Sikes. ‘Where? Strike me blind, if I don’t honour that ’ere girl, for her native talents.’.
1846		Era (London) 12 Apr. 9/2: Strike me blind, Jack, if I don’t think so [...] but them swells is sich gallows rogues.
1858		Hobart Town Dly Mercury (Tas.) 24 Mar. 3/1: Henry Seaton was now charged with the same offence, by using the words ‘G---- strike me blind; if you take that man into custody (meaning Simmons), I will proceed against you’ .
1864		Derby Day 51: I am surprised at Paddy. If I ain’t strike me bob.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 56/2: Strike me blind if she ain’t getting too proud to speak to anybody now.
1865		H. Kingsley Hillyars and the Burtons (1876) 232: ‘I’ll have your bingy; strike me as blind as a morepork if I don’t have your bingy!’.
1865		H. Kingsley Hillyars and the Burtons (1876) 154: ‘Strike me blind if I don’t, sir’.
1868		H.L. Williams Black-Eyed Beauty 97: Hullo! I say, Jem! vy strike me lame, here’s the pretty lady what give us the blunt tother day!
1873		Sl. Dict. 313: It is often used as a modification of ‘Strike me blind!’ and is now and again corrupted into ‘Strike me silly!’ A foolish variation of this is ‘Strike me up a gum-tree.’.
1874		J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 13: The majority of the critics vowed ‘strike them blind’ if they wouldn’t come and see it.
1881		Southern Argus (Goulburn, NSW) 13 Jul. 4/2: ‘Give me a chance, and I’ll turn honest. Strike me dumb! I will work like a slave, and never rob again’.
1885		D.C. Murray Rainbow Gold I 135: ‘Strike me ugly!’ said the sergeant.
1886		Adelaide Obs. 27 Feb. 45/4: ‘Strike me ugly!’ said the sergeant of the guard. ‘Hillo! Who’s this here dog belong to?’.
1892		W. Norr Stories of Chinatown 63: Strike me blind, but it’s a five-spot.
1892		Dundee Courier 13 Dec. 5/2: Witness asked her [...] if she was never going to stop drinking, and she replied, ‘strike me deaf, dumb and blind if I will’.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 8 July 8/4: Strike me blind if I eat that.
1895		Star (Christchurch, N.Z.) 14 Sept. 1/7: His favourite expletives are ‘strike me blind’ and ‘s’elp me Gawd’.
1898		C.J. Dennis in Critic (Adelaide) 19 Mar. 5: Strike me dumb! ’E made things ’um - / Casey was a daisy! / Tanglefoot an’ doctored rum / Drove the fellers crazy.
1910		L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 71: Strike me blind, Katie, you’re off your nut.
1918		Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 Apr. 20/1: But, strike me blind! I’ve got to go and feed the bleeding horse.
1927		(con. 1918) J.W. Thomason Red Pants 98: Strike me blind if it ain’t a tike.
1932		Eyre’s Peninsula Tribune (Cowell, SA) 28 Apr. 2/3: Along then comes McFarlane, and he says, ‘Why strike me lame, / You know you can’t do that, me boy, your name’s not Elgin Main’ .
1933		Williamstown Chron. (Vic.) 5 Aug. 7/4: Now, strike me ugly, I sees last Saturday another chap pinches it from the old ‘Chronicle’ (nearly eighty year old), and blow me if he doesn’t get away with it.
1941		Howard ‘Heat’ in Mann Coast to Coast 131: D’you think I don’t know it’s hot. Strike me bloody blind!
1946		B. Cerf Anything For a Laugh 83: Strike me down if I ain’t seen a big alligator down in the swamp with little Sambo in his mouth.
1952		Bury Free Press 22 Feb. 5/7: May God strike me deaf, dumb, blind and humpty if I am not telling the truth.
1974		(con. 1945) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 293: ‘Strike you blind,’ Gorilla warned.

(Aus./N.Z.) a mild oath.

1839		‘Mrs Crow’s Arrival’ in Jim Crow’s Song-Book 11: Ven, strike me vhite! but I, / Saw Massa Jim Crow.
1878		C. Clarke Little Alpine Fox Dog 173: Strike me blue, but yer'll bring a fiver into Jimmy.
1882		A. Montgomery in Yorke’s Peninsula Advertiser 22 Sept. 1/6: ‘Strike me blue, but you shall pay for that!’ exclaimed the fellow.
1895		Queenslander (Brisbane) 2 Mar. 404/1: Strike me blue or green or red, / I can stand upon my head.
1898		Binstead & Wells Pink ’Un and Pelican 200: Strike me Prussian blue! — don’t you begin no funny business or I’m likely to get violent!
1904		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 10 Apr. 3/4: ‘O, me little Warrior pets, you are the bonzas. Tike the Railways ’ome to their mothers, strike me red, white, blue, and bandy, they can’t beat eggs!’.
1904		W.T. Goodge Hits! Skits! and Jingles! 3: Strike me blue! There was nothing, that was mischief, / That the kiddy would n’t do!
1914		C.J. Dennis ‘The Play’ in Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July 47/1: They smooge some more at that. Ar, strike me blue! / It gimme Joes to sit an’ watch them two!
1934		E. Raymond Child of Norman’s End (1967) 438: Strike me blue if there ain’t the Gen’ral!
1973		(con. 1940s–60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes ‘The Shearer’s Lament’ in Snatches and Lays 72: God, strike me blue.
1996		B. Scott Banshee and Bullocky 125: ‘Strike me blue,’ said Angus.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 202: strike me bloody/hooray/handsome/lucky/up a gum tree Exclamations of surprise. ANZ C20.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1936

Glen Innes Examiner (NSW) 25 Jan. 8/2: ‘Strike-me-bob, Charlie, feels like me bloomin’ foot’s come off’ .

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1895		Worker (Wagga NSW) 5 Jan. 3/3: We threw down our swags, our billies and bags, / And all you require to travel out back, / And as we sat down I said ‘Strike me brown!’ .
1907		Townsville Dly Bulletin (Qld) 2 Oct. 3/3: As she walked down the town, / Said old Mick: ‘Strike me brown, / She’s a high stepper, sure, from Ostend.’ .
1909		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 17 Jan. 4/7: Then Jim, he winks a sort ’o’ tired wink, / And grunts, ‘Gor strike me brown!’.
1976		B. Wannan Come In Spinner 100: ‘Starve the lizards and strike me brown - / They don’t waste much of a sheep in Town!’.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1904		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 10 Apr. 3/4: ‘Strike me cock-eyed, mate,’ he continued (and he shuddered as he spoke), ‘be the time the season’s over the blankers’ll be as big as elephants’.
1911		E. Dyson Benno & Some of the Push [ebook] ‘Strike me cock-eyed iv the old dorkin’s ain’t stricken with it,’ said Mills to the town traveller .

a mild oath.

1866		B.L. Farjeon Grif 2 89: ‘Strike me cruel!’ exclaimned the Oysterman [...] ‘Strike me patient! [ibid.] 90: Let a cove speak accoprding to his education.
1899		Daily Gaz. for Middlesborough 22 Sept. 4/5: [as 1970]’.

1. a mild oath.

1737		‘W.H.’ Projectors 61: Plumb: So Sister, you and i are not a-Kin — Strike me stiff!
1772		Bridges Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 447: Tho’ I am old, yet strike me stiff, / And dry me for a mummy, / If in all the lands I’ve travell’d o’er / I ever saw such nags before.
1781		Belle’s Stratagem 42: Strike me stiff, if Courtall does n’t come down with the rhinoon his marriage-day.
1833		Hobart Town Courier 8 Feb. 2/4: ‘God strike me dead, but I will lie down and die’ .
1851		Geelong Advertiser (Vic.) 3 Apr. 1/1: [I am] a first rate bruiser, in fact a thorough strike-me-stiff smash-me-dead sort of customer &c, a man of interminable yarnsu.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 209/2: Strike me dead, ain’t you keeping me a while!
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 119/1: Strike me a dead-un, if there ain’t more ‘screeve’ than would cover a haystack!
1866		B.L. Farjeon Grif (1898) 322: ‘Strike me dead!’ cried the Oysterman.
1892		H. Lawson ‘Visit of Condolence’ in Roderick (1972) 32: Strike me dead! carn’t yer answer a civil queschin?
1900		Marvel XIV:343 June 15: Strike me honest, if —.
1903		A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 76: This is straight orf the tape, gawdstrikemedead!
1908		Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Aug. 26/1: Then said a raucous voice: ‘Well, if / Yer arskin’ me, Lor strike me stiff, / No wonder that they beat Bill Squires!’.
1915		T. Skeyhill ‘Shrapnel’ Soldier Songs from Anzac (1916) 4: I says, ‘Well, strike me dead’ / Some bloomin’ Turk gunlayer / ’Ad slapped that shell at me.
1920		‘Sapper’ Bulldog Drummond 214: Strike me dead, guv’nor [...] I never meant no ’arm.
1923		P. MacGill Moleskin Joe 86: Strike me stiff! if I put up with it any more!
1932		(con. WWI) L. Mann Flesh in Armour 261: ‘I ’ave [seen a Zeppelin] ; strike me dead if I ’aven’t. Blimy’.
1934		Gettysberg Times (PA) 3 Dec. 3/2: ‘It’s the plain, unvarnished, strike-me-dead truth,’ I protested.
1935		R.T. Hopkins Life and Death at the Old Bailey 291: ‘Strike me dead, boss!’ said the cabby.
1947		Charlesville Times (Qld) 7 Feb. 17/2: Stone the crows. ’Course I love you. Strike me dead...
1955		D. Niland Shiralee 158: Strike me dead, I don’t know.
1967		F.J. Hardy in Great Aus. Lover Stories 9: Strike me dead if I tell a lie.
1971		J. O’Grady Aussie Etiket (1976) 5: ‘Gawd strike me bloody dead - look what me missus’s given me for smoko. Skinny bloody sliced bread, an’ peanut bloody butter’.
1996		Penguin Bk of More Aus. Jokes 489: Strike me fuckin’ dead. How would you feel if you got a blow-out?

2. used emphatically as adj.

1934

Gettysberg Times (PA) 3 Dec. 3/2: ‘It’s the plain, unvarnished, strike-me-dead truth,’ I protested.

3. used attrib. to suggest dangerous to one’s health.

1944

S. Horler Lady with the Limp 95: Still smoking that strike-me-dead muck then, old horse?

see strike me silly!

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1866

B.L. Farjeon Grif (1898) 165: ‘You wouldn’t hurt a woman, of course, Oysterman?’ ‘Strike me dizzy!’ exclaimed the Oysterman.

(US) a mild excl.

1824

National Advocate (N.Y.) 14 Apr. 2/4: I’ll give 25 dollars to the niger [sic] to make it up; strike me doleful.

(Aus.) a mild excl.

1909

E.J. Brady Ways of Many Waters 124We see Jack sailin’ through the sky, / An’ may I - strike me dry! - / If we know where ’e went; / We never got no scent / Of where that sailor went: .

(Aus./N.Z.) a mild excl.

1887		Western Champion (Blackall/Barcaldine, Qld) 5 Apr. 2/8: Plenty of Water and Grass, there’s no doubt about that / Your prads won’t go hungry; if they do ‘Strike me fat’ .
1892		‘Fanny Flukem’s Ball’ in Bird o’ Freedom (Sydney) in J. Murray Larrikins (1973) 39: For Little Ginger kept the door, / And swore ‘Lor; strike him fat,’ / If they didn’t part their deners up / he’d lay ’em cold and flat.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 14 Jan. 6/6: Strike me fat, if I ever go back to the old life if they let this joint alone for another stretch (i.e. a year).
1900		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 28 Nov. 1/3: ‘Strikemephat!’ retorted Albrecht, ‘I done me best: I had hold of the other blanky horse’s rein round the bend, and half way up the straight’.
c.1900		C. Osborne [perf. T.E. Dunville] ‘Getting to the bottom of it’ 🎵 Said I, pit-a-pat,‘'Well, strike me fat / Why the damsel isn’t worth while’.
1911		H. Champion ‘I’m Getting Ready for Mother-in-Law’ [monologue] My wife’s mother sent a letter [...] saying she was coming for a week to stay. When I heard the news ‘Well strike me fat’.
1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Nov. 13/3: Jockey (in disgust): ‘Well, strike me fat, some of you chaps is never satisfied. Didn’t I beat seven of ’em!’.
1918		Kia Ora Coo-ee 15 Mar. 11/1: And we breathes so dry that, strike me fat, / It would wither a bloomin’ cactus.
1924		E.G. Murphy ‘Dossin’ Outer Doors’ Dryblower’s Verses 5: I dunno how they come at it, but strike me fat they do!
1937		‘Dryblower’ in Sun. Times (Perth) 30 May 13/1: An’ strike-a-me-fat, / I gotta da knack / Of curing da sprat.
1955		D. Niland Shiralee 82: God strike me fat! Look who’s here!
1965		B. Wannan Fair Go, Spinner 107: ‘Strike me fat!’ said Ginger Joe.

a mild excl.

1821		J. Burrowes Life in St George’s Fields 17: Strike me funny but I’d rather have been blowing a cloud with a pot of heavy before me.
1839		Sporting Almanack Jan. 7: The world is quite different now from what it used to be when 1 was a youngster; [...] as for stage-coachmen and farriers, strike me funny, but they’re a rum set become.
1843		F. Higginson Smugglers 1 117: Strike me funny! if you ar’n't a clever fellow, after all!
1857		Hutchings’ Illus. Calif. Mag. 1 68: Did you ever see a male wet-nuss in your life? Strike me funny, if that old gentleman won’t be one afore the eend of his journy.
1895		Truth (Sydney) 3 Feb. 3/6: ’E’s got a reglar slap-up donah, too — an A1 judy [...] Strike me funny, but she’s a perfeck pictur’.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1903		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 11 Oct. 3/3: ‘Strike me green, yer — . Me mob orter take teryer’.
1911		Truth (Sydney) 15 Jan. 9/3: Strike me green, I knows her figger.
1957		A. Upfield Bony Buys a Woman (1966) 91: ‘Strike me green, they was all pacified enough’.

(Aus./N.Z.) a mild excl.

1885		Newcastle Morn. Herald (NSW) 24 Nov. 2/1: And cries of ‘strike me handsome’ and ‘Lord blue me’ filled the air.
1895		Freeman’s Jrnl (Sydney) 10 Aug. 8/3: ‘Well, strike me pretty if that isn’t just too awfully good for anything!’.
1898		J.D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 160: Oh! Strike me good-lookin’!
1906		Sun. Times (Perth) 21 Jan. 4/7: Strike me ’andsome, w’en I came ter count ’em over I only ’ad forty [i.e. pounds].
1906		Punch (Melbourne) 27 Sept. 4/2: Me and Jidder went up and ’it ther umpire on ther jor. Strike me pritty, in ’arf a second I sor stars, and ther blokes dragged Jidder orf with a nose liker prize turnip.
1910		L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 62: I don’t argue with women, oh no, strike me pretty!
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl.
1948		Northern Times (Carnarvon, WA) 9 Jan. 12/4: ‘Stiffen the lizards and strike me handsome!’ he exclaimed aloud.
1957		‘Nino Culotta’ They’re a Weird Mob (1958) 16: Strike me bloody ’andsome, I just told yer.
1968		S. Gore Holy Smoke 28: Well, strike me handsome!
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 109/1: strike me handsome! well, fancy that! Variant of strike me lucky/pink.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 202: strike me bloody/hooray/handsome/lucky/up a gum tree Exclamations of surprise. ANZ C20.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1900

Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Mar. 15/4: Vy, so help me! [...] are ye poppin’ ’em again! Strike me holy! it vas only yesterday that I pinned ’em up.

see strike me dead!

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1918		Table Talk (Melbourne) 31 Jan. 34/1: ‘Strike me hooray! said one fellow; ‘I could stand bein’ beat by any ’orse, but Blue Toorie ain’t even part of ah ’orse!’ .
1938		Sun. Times (Perth) 9 Jan. 9/1: Strike me hooray! Who wants to read leaders anyhow? If you’d sling us a few racing tips it might fee another master.
1954		Argus (Melbourne) 11 Sept. 12/8: Those records of Soapy’s still stand although George Goninon [...] equalled them a couple of years ago. Strike me hooray, that was against the Magpies, too!
1961		B. Crump Hang On a Minute, Mate (1963) 67: Strike me hooray, Olly. Don’t you know your own brother?
1986		R. Fitzgerald Pushed From The Wings (1989) 66: ‘Pass me the boomerang boys, we’ll kill ’im now and eat ’im for lunch! Strikemehooray’.
1998		R.G. Barrett Goodoo Goodoo 132: Strike me hooray. This sounds like a live one.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 202: strike me bloody/hooray/handsome/lucky/up a gum tree Exclamations of surprise. ANZ C20.

see strike me blind!

a general oath, esp. on the sealing of a bargain by slapping hands together.

1781		Belle‘s Stratagem 12: Mrs Racket: Strike me lucky, Courtall, is these flams will do with me.
1821		‘A Real Paddy’ Real Life in Ireland 267: I’ll buy you a plaister, you crowl of the devil, that shall heal all your ugliness, before you can say strike me lucky.
1831		‘Gallery of 140 Comicalities’ Bell’s Life in London 24 June 3/2: Why, strike me lucky if I arnt found a nest.
1832		Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas.) 16 Oct. 2/1: Verses of ‘A. Z.’ are prosey in the extreme. ‘Strike me Lucky next discount day,’ is in, type, but the Reform Bill is of more consequence than ‘Strike me Lucky’s Bill,’ with ‘such a name’ .
1838		R. Nicholson Cockney Adventures 24 Feb. 131: ‘Strike me lucky,’ said that gentleman, ‘if we haven’t forgot the ammunition!’.
1845		J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 108: Strike me lucky, what a glorious night for our glorious occupation.
1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 104: strike me lucky! a simple form of oath common amongst the lower orders when making a bargain, and appealing to their honour.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 135/2: Stryke mi luckky, iv we ’avent ‘touched’ this tyme!
1873		Sl. Dict. [as cit. 1859].
1890		Dead Bird (Sydney) 8 Mar. 4/4: But strike me lucky I can’t get off / With a hundred pounds of steam.
1897		W.S. Maugham Liza of Lambeth (1966) 134: Strike me lucky, ain’t ’e a sight!
1900		Sporting Times 26 May 1/3: Oh, it makes me ache; but—strikemelucky, if you want to see a real famine, come up to the American Bar! There hasn’t been a quid changed for three weeks!
1900		Truth (Sydney) 7 Oct. 5/5: Strike me lucky, / She’s a kidder, this one are.
1903		A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 259: Strike-me-lucky, if the time’s come when these sort of people can bet on the nod.
1916		Wipers Times 20 Mar. (2006) 40/1: ‘Oh, strike me lucky!’ – then replied / The private very sore.
1918		C.J. Dennis ‘The Boon of Discontent’ in Backblock Ballads 37: Strike me lucky! This ’ere game’s no good to me!
1933		J. Truran Where The Plain Begins 108: ‘Strike me lucky, Auntie; I never said nothin’’.
1936		Western Champion (Qld) 12 Dec. 3/3: Strike me lucky, it must be late.
1957		G. Kersh Fowlers End (2001) 83: Well, strike me lucky, I never thought o’ that one!
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 22: Strike me lucky! Now you’ve really put a bloke on the spot.
1967		J. Wynnum I’m a Jack, All Right 118: Strike me lucky [...] No wonder some jokers go to sea.
1974		J. McNeil How Does Your Garden Grow Act III: Well, strike me lucky! [...] Get it? Strike me lucky . . . Lucky Strikes!
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 109/1: strike me handsome! well, fancy that! Variant of strike me lucky/pink.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 202: strike me bloody/hooray/handsome/lucky/up a gum tree Exclamations of surprise. ANZ C20.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1866

B.L. Farjeon Grif (1898) 241: ‘By God! Oysterman,’ exclaimed Jim Pizey, ‘you’ve got a heart of iron!’ ‘Strike me merciful!’ said the Tenderhearted Oysterman.

a mild excl.

1796		Sporting Mag. Nov. IX 81/2: Strike me moral, if I’ve seen it [i.e. a place of work] these three months.
1852		T. Gwynne School for Fathers 225: If I fail ‘strike me moral’ I’ll marry, and cut him off with a shilling! — the foolish bumpkin!

(orig. Irish) a mild oath.

1845		Dublin Wkly Nation 13 Sept. 11/4: I swear, so strike me paralytic / If I have mock’d Horatian laws / [...] / But punch — cold punch — has bee the cause.
1897		Sun. Times (Sydney) 19 Dec. 14/4: ‘Then, Tattam, I’ve got an idea!’ jubilated Wakefield. ‘A glorious idea! Strike me paralytic!’ .
1900		Coolgardie Miner (WA) 10 July 6/4: The Bayley street denizen replied he had parted ‘fifty of the best.’ ‘Strike me paralytic pink,’ said the driver, with a gesture of indescribable disdain.
1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Dec. 22/4: Well, we didn’t wait to get that egg cooked, but smashed it at once, an’ strike me paralytic, boys, there was a quid in that egg, too.
1903		Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Dec. 32/1: When I comes back ’bout ten ’spectin’ ter find ther johnny ’bout cooked, strike me paralytic if ’twasn’t gawn.
1909		Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA) 16 May 9/1: ‘[S]o I goes down to bring me mate ‘Blinkey’ along, ter see wot ’e thinks of it - and strike me paralytic pink, when we comes up, wot do yer think we sees?’.
1910		Northern Miner (Charters Towers, Qld) 23 Sept. 3/3: You were not apathetic, / With all your other crimes. / For, strike me paralytic / You voted twenty times!
1915		Willaura Farmer (Vic.) 23 Sept. 3/3: But, blime, s’elp me, strike me paralytic, thinks I, ees makin’ it ’ot, aint he?

a general excl. of surprise, alarm, shock etc.

1857		S.E. Glover Cradle of Liberty 8: This is my first morning call before breakfast — strike me perpendicular.
1897		Geelong Advertiser (Vic.) 4 Dec. 5/1: ‘We’re shut in. And strike me perpendicular if it don’t make me feel for all the world like a bloomin’ monkey in the Zoo .
1898		Dly Teleg. 30 Dec. 8/6: ‘Strike me perp [...] if i don’t ’ave a cut at you for that!’.
1899		W.T. Goodge ‘Hits! Skits! & Jingles!’ in Wannan Folklore of Aus. Pub (1972) 30: Says he, ‘Strike me perpendic’lar / But you beggars are partic’lar.’.
1900		Cassell’s Mag. 20 252: ‘Strike me perpendicular!’ said Turkey. ‘Oh, it's you again, is it?’ said the warder. ‘We shall have some fun with you!’.
1914		E. Pugh Cockney At Home 67: ‘Strike me perpendicular!’ he says, a-takin off his coat all in a flare and fluster. [Ibid.] ‘Strike me perp!’ he says, ‘if I don’t ’ave a cut at you for that!’.
1930		Sun. Times (Perth) 21 Dec. 21/3: And then he started back and exclaimed: ‘Strike me perpendicular, if it ain’t one o’ the play-actin’ young gents!’.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1866

B.L. Farjeon Grif 2 320: ‘Strike me petrified! but I’m as gentle as a dove, and wouldn’t hurt a chicken!’.

1. a mild excl. of surprise, irritation etc.

1890		Mercury and Weekly Courier (Melbourne) 13 Aug. 3/7: ‘Dash my bloomin’ buttons!’ suddenly exclaimed Will Welsher; ‘if this ere ain’t wot I call comfortable! Strike me pink, but it reminds yer of hold times, don’t it Mike?’.
1891		United Service 6 308/1: ‘Strike me pink,’ he muttered, ‘this is not such a “beno” after all. Blow these young toffs’.
1894		E.W. Rogers [perf. Marie Lloyd] The Barmaid 🎵 ‘Arry strike me blue and pink / She’s alright that served that drink’.
1894		‘The Rocks Push Eisteddfod’ in Bird o’ Freedom (Sydney) in J. Murray Larrikins (1973) 87: The leader of the Rocks push cursed [...] Strike me balmy! Do me pink!
1895		Queenslander (Brisbane) 2 Mar. 404/1: Oh! Strike me pink, oh! do.
1901		Marvel XV:386 Mar. 10: Thought it might be ’andy, an’ strike me pink if it ain’t bin!
1901		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 25 Sept. 3/2: Strike me pink and brindle.
1905		H. Lawson ‘Joseph’s Dreams and Reuben’s Brethren’ in Roderick (1967–9) II 97: He [...] gave it best, and, riding back, / Said firmly, ‘Strike me pink!’.
1905		A.B. Paterson Old Bush Songs 68: In heaven! what next I wonder, / For strike me pink and blue, / If I see whatever in thunder / They’ll find for Bill to do.
1906		Sun. Times (Perth) 18 Feb. 4/7: Wel’, paralyse me pink. I felt like a blanky informer.
1912		P.C. Wren Dew & Mildew 287: ‘Love us !’ said one country-bred ticket-collector. ‘Strike me pink,’ said the other.
1916		Sun. Times (Perth) 19 Nov. 5s/4: Rot the Nonconformist Conscience! / Strike the wowsers pink and red!
1917		A.G. Empey Over the Top 99: Gott strafe me pink, I’m bloody well gassed, not ’alf I ain’t.
1920		‘Sapper’ Bulldog Drummond 86: Strike me pink if it ain’t young Drummond.
1923		Gippsland Times (Vic.) 1 Oct. 5/3: I am out ter earn me shillin’, / Make no errer I am willin’, / An’ me energy is thrillin’, / Strike me pink, I aint a blob!
1926		K.S. Prichard Working Bullocks 96: Sittin’ on a jarrah log, / Perishin’ like a bloomin’ frog – / Gord strike me pink.
1930		L. Lower Here’s Luck 174: ‘Strike me pink, you’re childish!’ .
1932		F. Jennings Tramping with Tramps 193: Strike me pink, Ned, yer don’t ’arf look funny!
1944		L. Glassop We Were the Rats 81: ‘Strike me pink,’ he said, ‘yous city blokes dunno nothin’.’.
1955		D. Niland Shiralee 108: Strike me pink, Mac, you’re not leaving?
1958		(con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 91: I’ll go straight, Gov, strike me pink if I don’t.
1966		C. Stead Cotters’ England (1980) 146: And now he’s gone, strike me pink, if she isn’t more like him than before.
1967		E. Southall To the Wild Sky 122: ‘Strike me pink! roared Bruce. ‘Where’s the Egret?’.
1971		T. Murphy Morning After Optimism in Plays: 3 (1994) Scene v: Did it never strike you pink that he might really be a mean-un?
1976		S. Weller ‘Bastards I Have Met’ 5: ‘God strike me pink - I’ve had ten customers this morning - four on the bite and six on the nod!’.
1986		R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Dict. 49: Strike me pink: The Australian version of the English, ‘fancy that’.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 109/1: strike me handsome! well, fancy that! Variant of strike me lucky/pink.

2. as v., to render someone foolish.

1912

Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Nov. 12/1: Oh, I’d love to think / That she made him blink, / And ‘knocked him silly,’ / And ‘struck him pink,’ / And ‘turned him dilly,’ / Then drove him to drink / By coming in wearing her new tiara!

see strike me handsome!

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1904		Southern Cross Times (Perth) 24 Sept. 4/5: They ask ‘What sort of game is this’ or say ‘Well, strike me puce.’ .
1911		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 25 June 4/7: ‘W’y, strike me puce, you couldn’t a chop enough wood to boil a crimson billy’ .
1924		Wesditern Mail (Perth) 9 Oct. 41/3: ‘Strike me puce, youse old blokes make me cry’.
1927		Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld) 22 Dec. 6/3: ‘You reckon you’re a marvel at pickin’ doubles. Strike me puce, there was the sweetest double in the world looking at you, and you miss it’ .

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1895		A. Montgomery in N. Queensland Register (Townsville, Qld) 25/3: ‘It’s the fust I’ve heard of it; an’ strike me purple of there was a flamin’ word about that in the contrack!’ .
1904		‘Dryblower’ ‘His Quest’ in Sun. Times (Perth) 3 Apr. 4/7: And said, ‘Why strike me purple, wot’s your blanky ’urry for?’.
1914		Sun (Sydney) 27 June 6/8: ‘Strewth an’ strike me purple-paralytic,’ says the cabby.
1915		C.J. Dennis ‘Mar’ in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 68: Strike me purple! ‘Willie!’ That’s wot ’urts.
1920		Bystander 11 Feb. 360/2: ‘Then strike me purple, also pink’.
1944		Sun. Mail (Brisbane) 10 Dec 3S/3: ‘Well, strike me purple,’ I says.

(US) a mild excl.

1840

F. Essenhigh My Cousin Tom 7: Tom. Strike me putrid, if this isn't incomprehensible!

(Aus./N.Z.) a mild excl.

1917		All Abaht It (London) Feb. (1919) 12: Strike me rone [...] I had to laugh [AND].
1933		Townsville Daily Bull. (Qld) 3 June 12/6: Strike me roan. I’m a silly cow.
1940		Advocate (Burnie, Tas.) 8 Apr. 8/2: Well, strike me roan, with pink spots, son.
1955		D. Stivens Ironbark Bill 47: Strike me roan if we are!
1965		B. Wannan Fair Go, Spinner 179: ‘Strike me roan, man!’ roared the Boss.
1968		J. O’Grady Gone Troppo (1995) 176: The Skipper blew up. ‘Strike me bloody roan an’ purple...don’t you know better than to bring bloody stew on a Reef trip?’.
1974		D. Ireland Burn 103: Strike me roan, one word and you’re off the track to billy-oh!
1984		S. Thorne Battler 42: ‘Strike me roan! Twenty-two thousand dollars?’.
1999		B. Fleming ‘The Cadets’ 🌐 ‘Look ’t the skinny legs on that sheila in the red cossie.’ ‘Strike me roan,’ said Johnno, a devoted leg man.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Coorparoo Blues [ebook] ‘Fuck me roan, what a war!’.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1925

Sport (Adelaide) 24 Apr. 7/2: When Australians generally grip the strong of the full story they will insist upon a better remembrance of the day than the present R.S.A. heads think good enough. Strike me rotten, if they don’t .

1. a mild excl. of surprise, irritation etc.

1704		Cibber Careless Husband III i: But, strike me stupid, if ever I could discover Sense in all the Progress of his Amours.
1781		Belle’s Stratagem 13: Cut my fortune, strike me comical!
1831		Navy at Home II 59: ‘Strike me comical,’ cried he, ‘this is hot work’.
1836		H.M. Milner Turpin’s Ride to York II i: Strike me stupid if I be done a second time.
1845		J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 306: Strike me sensible, but you does do your bacca in a business like style.
1846		Sherbourne Mercury 11 Apr. 2/6: The elegant epistle opens thus, ‘Strike me comical, dear Ned’ etc.
1873		Sl. Dict. 313: It is often used as a modification of ‘Strike me blind!’ and is now and again corrupted into ‘Strike me silly!’ A foolish variation of this is ‘Strike me up a gum-tree.’.
1886		Leicester Chron. 5 June 12/2: ‘Strike me comical if it don’t occur to me that we have met before’.
1890		H. Lawson ‘A Word to Texas Jack’ in Roderick (1967–9) I 65: Gosh! so-help-me! strike-me-balmy!
1892		Pearson’s Wkly (London) 7 May 3/2: ‘Strike me silly if I knew if I had any clothes on at all!’.
1894		‘The Rocks Push Eisteddfod’ in Bird o’ Freedom (Sydney) in J. Murray Larrikins (1973) 87: The leader of the Rocks push cursed [...] Strike me balmy! Do me pink!
1895		‘G.G.’ Sporting Sketches in Sportsman (Melbourne) (18/10/1898) 5/7: ‘No, strike me silly sideways, this Arscit [i.e. Ascot race track] now ain’t what it used ter be’.
1915		P. Macgill Amateur Army 62: I’ll never come in ’ere again [...] Strike me balmy if I do!
1901		W.S. Walker In the Blood 140: Strike me silly if I knew yer at first.
1910		L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 73: Strike me balmy, I didn’t mean to punch you, Katie.
1911		E. Dyson ‘Barracking’ in Benno and Some of the Push 142: Strike me dilly, they’s blokes ’ere don’t earn enough t’ keep a canary in corf drops.
1920		Marvel 21 Aug. 10: Strike me silly, I ought to.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 386: Strike me silly, said Costello.

2. (Aus. of a suit of extravagant cut) .

Truth (Brisbane) 10 Apr. 5/2: Tyler used to wear six-guinea ‘STRIKE ME SIDEWAYS’ SUITS; the coats little longer than the vests, and the bells at the bottoms of the bags big enough to hold the Australian surplus.

a mild excl.

1877		Sporting Times 11 Aug. 5/1: ‘But mind it goes no furder [sic], else I’ll never send you no more winners — strike me sober, I won’t’.
1908		Bulletin (Sydney) 1 Oct. 14/3: ‘Ain’t cher goin’ t’ rustle up th’ rent, y’r curry-spotted Guy Fawkes?’ snarled the sport. ‘There’ll be a rent in y’r listenin’ flap if y’d don’t stifle y’r sob,’ growled th’ game-gatherer ominously. ‘Why, strike me sober, y’r’v faked th’ fire.’.

(Aus.) a mild excl.

1894

Truth (Sydney) 17 June 1/6: You’re too deep for the fly flats [...] It’s a honor to be your friend, strike me solemn if it isn’t.

see strike me dead!

a mild excl. of surprise, irritation etc.

1890

Sporting Times 12 Apr. 1/5: Oh, strike me sunburnt!

see strike me blind!

excl. of surprise, amazement.

1907

D. Stewart Shadows of the Night in Illus. Police News 15 June 12/4: ‘Strike me unfortunate and kick me into the middle of the next new moon, if I knowed yer thought at the fust glance’.

(Aus.) excl. of irritation.

1919

Teed Dly (Murwillumbah, NSW) 17 May 7/4: And strike me up a gumtree, all his bloomin goods would bring / Wouldn’t buy the bottle diamond in a knuckle-duster ring.

(Aus.) excl. of irritation.

1885

Gippsland Times (Vic.) 5 June 4/2: ‘Oh strike me up a gutter, I wishes it wor’ eight o’clock’.

(Aus.) an excl. of annoyance, frustration.

1911

E. Dyson ‘At the Opera’ in Benno and Some of the Push 90: Strike me up a pipe, yeh can’t get a hook into this anywhere.

(Aus.) excl. of affirmation.

1897

Leader (Melbourne) 27 Nov. 20/3: ‘I must ’a killed scores ov ’em on me ’ands, an’ I’ll swear I’ve drunk nigh on a ’undred ov ’em this mornin’ in long beers; but, strike me up a sheoak, there ain’t ‘no flies’ as I kin see on them two blokes thet’s battin’!’ .

(Aus.) a mild excl. of annoyance, frustration.

1911

E. Dyson ‘The Picnic’ in Benno and Some of the Push 8: ‘Strike me up a stick,’ he said, bitterly, ‘this is gettin’ on my nerves.’.

an excl. of astonishment.

1866		Wild Boys of London I 195/2: Well! Strike me up a tree, Jim; is this you?
1866		Bradford Obs. 6 Dec. 6/6: I’ll [...] ’ave you nobb’d off to the asylum; strike me up a bleeding plum tree if I don’t.
1873		Sl. Dict. 313: It is often used as a modification of ‘Strike me blind!’ and is now and again corrupted into ‘Strike me silly!’ A foolish variation of this is ‘Strike me up a gum-tree.’.
1881		Stage (London) 2 Sept. 8/1: We were much surprised to hear [‘Bonnie’ Kate Harvey] descend to such execrable slang as ‘strike me up a gum tree’ and ‘so help me Bob.’ These expressions are really not funny [and] they are very far from nice.
1888		Melbourne Punch 9 Feb. 11/1: ‘Oh, strike me up a gum tree! Well, such is life - now you see it, and now you don’t’.
1891		Week (Brisbane) 9 Oct. 34/2: ‘Strike me up a plum-tree, who’re yer gettin’ at?’.
1900		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 3 June 3/3: You don’t come along down to train, and strike me up a pear tree what am I to do with you.
1902		Port Augusta Dispatch (SA) 10 Jan. 3/3: ‘Well, strike me up a tree! / Have I to go on guard to-night, / Without my blooming tea?’.
1922		H. Champion ‘Here Comes Old Beaver’ [monologue] To a football match I went [...] When I got there, strike me up a tree! They asked me to be the referee’.
1929		Graphic (London) 23 Mar. 22/3: ‘Well...strike me up a gum tree!’ he exclaimed.
1968		D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches 185: Jock looked horrified again. ‘Strike me up a gum, there’s blokes all over the country’d be glad to smoke it.’.
1978		Sydney Morning Herald 1 July 20/6: A June issue of Publishers Weekly (US) had a ‘strike-me-up-a-gum-tree’ touch in one advertisement.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 202: strike me bloody/hooray/handsome/lucky/up a gum tree Exclamations of surprise. ANZ C20.

(Aus.) a mild oath.

1904		Westralian Worker (Perth) 26 Feb. 4/3: ‘Strike me up a wattle, Soapy, you ought to have seen us marching to the railway station with our swags.’ .
1916		Advertiser (Adelaide) 28 Oct. 19/8: Now, when the antis come the gag, ‘The wealthy will escape,’ / And only Bill and Micko are fighting for their sake. / There’s just as many Oswalds, Fitzmaurices, and Berts, / ’Ave chucked their glassy ally in, and left their loving skirts / To battle for Australia, for justice, freedom, too, / But strike me up a wattle! Don’t yer want to see it through?

(Aus.) an excl. of astonishment.

1911		Sun (Kalgoorlie) 25 June 4/7: ‘Strike me upside down,’ he howled. ‘I muster burst a blood vessel.’.
1935		Townsville Dly Bulletin (Qld) 9 Sep. 7/1: His clothes at first were white I think, / But strike me upside-down, / He wore the same duds day and night / Till they turned a dirty brown.