2006-10-01 04:22:18 · 6 answers · asked by krautlover2u 2 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
crikey is a diminutive of "Christ Almighty" originally, however most people do not know that so do not intend for it to be anything more than a good ol' Aussie exclamation! I first heard it was a dimunitve of "Christ Almighty" when I used "Crikey!" in front of my mother at age ten and got a slap in the ear for my efforts. Later I read in an etymology of Aussie slang that that is how the term came about.
It has been around for a very long time so in that sense it is old fashioned, but like many terms it is revived regularly and so is current as well.
If it is in present day use it is current and we all know it has been in present day use for a long time...
It is not limited to red-necks, or backwoodsmen. I have heard it used, prior to the Irwin fame, in the streets of Sydney and suburbs of Brisbane.
2006-10-01 09:33:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not many of us go around saying CRIKEY!!!!
My dad used to say it and he was like 70+
2006-10-01 11:24:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am from New Zealand ( very close to Aus ) and I can still hear my mom and relatives using it when she was mad at me or when some thing startled or suprised her! And bloody hell! So yes, it is of old. God I miss it there. What a lovely world we live in:)
2006-10-01 11:31:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's kinda the Aussie version of redneck slang. Steve Irwin was pretty backwoods by their standards, God love him.
2006-10-01 11:30:08 · answer #4 · answered by dbackbarb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since they are down under it takes longer for slang terms to reach popularity.
2006-10-01 11:36:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
old fashioned, hicky for real!
2006-10-01 11:32:34 · answer #6 · answered by whydiduaskthis? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋