crikey
Americaninterjection
interjection
Etymology
Origin of crikey
First recorded in 1830–40; probably euphemistic alteration of Christ
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It’s only now people are saying it that I’m thinking, “Oh, crikey, maybe it is a big deal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026
"It's one of those things that when someone first mentions it to you, you think 'oh crikey, that's a bit pie in the sky', but these guys know what they're doing," he said.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2023
Substantially more players make a decent living – crikey, the England players even have food tasters and someone to tuck them into bed at night.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 29, 2012
“I’m 69 now, crikey, the sands of time are drifting through.”
From New York Times ● Mar. 29, 2011
It evidently wasn't pleasant. "—and the boss was 'oppin' mad," Arthmore was saying, "but, crikey, 'ow was I to know that auspice was spelled A-U-S-P-I-C-E?"
From The Penal Cluster by Garrett, Randall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
