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Synonyms

cripes

American  
[krahyps] / kraɪps /

interjection

  1. (used as a mild oath or an exclamation of astonishment.)

cripes British  
/ kraɪps /

interjection

  1. old-fashioned an expression of surprise

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cripes

First recorded in 1905–10; apparently 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.

I was a pallbearer at her sister’s funeral, for cripes sake!

From Slate • Jun. 12, 2021

"I'll take a lot from you, but by cripes they's got to be a line drawed somewheres!"

From The Phantom Herd by Bower, B. M.

"By cripes, you forgive Jakie, and you do it quick!" he thundered.

From The Happy Family by Bower, B. M.

By cripes, I'm goin' t' have a look at that box, my hearty.

From The Million Dollar Mystery Novelized from the Scenario of F. Lonergan by MacGrath, Harold

Then, after a kind of dazed once-over of the raft, fore-and-aft: “By cripes, the kid is gone!”

From Down the Columbia by Freeman, Lewis R. (Lewis Ransome)

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.