What it means
An old-school exclamation you chuck out when you're surprised, impressed, or mildly horrified, without going full swear-mode. It's the polite, PG way to react to prices, gossip, or someone doing something daft. Usually comes with a little sigh or head shake. Often traced to the minced oath God blind me. Still pops up plenty.
Usage examples
"Blimey, eight quid for a pint and they’ve got the cheek to call it craft. Come on then, let’s sack this off and find a proper boozer"
"Blimey, have you seen the price of a coffee round here? I could get a whole lunch for that back home."
Where it comes from
A softened old oath, shortened from God blind me, scrubbed clean so you could say it in front of your nan. Blimey is the sound of British surprise, halfway between a gasp and a chuckle, good for a shock, a bargain or a near miss. Mild, fond and gloriously old fashioned.
Other ways to say it
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