Phrase guide

great Scott

intj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ɡɹeɪt skɒt/

1

intj

Meaning 1

An exclamation of surprise or amazement

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Uncertain or disputed. May come from either the Scottish novelist Walter Scott, so called in some poems, or Gen. Winfield Scott of the American Civil War, who weighed about 300 pounds and was referred to by his troops as "Great Scott". Alternately, perhaps a corruption of German grüß Gott! (“Good day!, Hello!”, literally “May God greet (thee)!”), or a euphemism for great Satan or good God.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: herranjestas — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • French: nom de Zeus — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Italian: diamine — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Italian: cospetto — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Italian: perbacco — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Italian: per Bacco baccone — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Italian: per Bacco bacchissimo — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Japanese: 何だる事だ (nandaru koto da) — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Swedish: jösses — exclamation of surprise or amazement
  • Thai: แม่เจ้าโว้ย — exclamation of surprise or amazement