2007-01-25 23:55:53 · 6 answers · asked by robert f 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Clark Kent would always exclaim this, then dash into the nearest phone booth to emerge as "SUPERMAN"!!
It is probably an English derivation of Grüss Gott!
2007-01-26 00:55:25 · answer #1 · answered by cloud43 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One possible origin is that it refers to a real person. In an 1871 issue of Galaxy magazine, there is the sentence: "‘Great—Scott!’ he gasped in his stupefaction, using the name of the then commander-in-chief for an oath, as officers sometimes did in those days”. And in a May 1861 edition of the New York Times: “These gathering hosts of loyal freemen, under the command of the great SCOTT”. These appear to be references to the one-time commander of the U.S. Army, General Winfield Scott.
Another possible origin of the phrase is that people seeking to emulate the German Prince Albert altered and anglicized "Grüà Gott!", or "God bless!" into "Great Scott!". The etymologist and author John Ciardi once believed this, but later recanted in a radio broadcast in 1985.
2007-01-26 00:07:21 · answer #2 · answered by ted j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once a common form of exclamation was "Great god!" Then in the prudish 19th century, people started changing this to sayings like great Caesar's ghost" or "great Scott". The Scott seems to refer to Gen. Winfield Scott. a hero in the Mexican War.
Similar sayings are, holy toledo, holy moley, my god. Or maybe-- goodness gracious, great balls of fire!
2007-01-26 00:33:23 · answer #3 · answered by True Blue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an expression of surprise. It's used when someone is
suddenly surprised.
2007-01-26 02:16:09 · answer #4 · answered by caroline j 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is from the Back to the Future movie series said by the "Doc" and it was in place of what we might say "holy crap or holy ****, etc."
2007-01-26 00:03:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
never heard it...
2007-01-26 00:04:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋