by jingo

interjection

Used to express determination or surprise.

Similar
adzooksaycarambamirabile dictuchihuahuabegorrableeding heckbleeding Nora
OriginBasque Jainkoa →
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Meanings

interjection
  1. Used to express determination or surprise.

    You can't tell the difference between surface and substance. Between celebrity and real accomplishment. By jingo, you're right. The scales have fallen from my eyes and I owe it all to you.

    1989, Moonlighting
    2 more examples

    […] of all commend me to Ball, this is the Friar of the World, for my Money; you've heard how short, concise, and compendious he is in his Answers? Nothing is to be got out of him but Monosyllables; by Jingo, I believe he would make three bits of a Cherry.

    1694, François Rabelais, chapter XXVI, in Peter Anthony Motteux, transl., The fifth book of The works of Francis Rabelais, M.D. […] , page 145

    “Yes, I'll make Simpledoria get out of the way. Come here, Simpledoria. Now, Bill, put your heels together on the edge of the walk. That's right. All ready? Now then! One for the money—two for the show—three to make ready—and four for to GO!” Another silence. “By jingo, Bill Hammersley, you've beat me! Ha, ha! That was a jump! What say?”

    1909, Booth Tarkington, Beasley's Christmas Party, New York: Harper & Brothers, pages 22–23

    Synonyms: adzooks, ay, caramba, mirabile dictu, chihuahua, begorra, bleeding heck, bleeding Nora

Synonyms & antonyms

interjectionUsed to express determination or surprise.

Similar
adzooksaycarambamirabile dictuchihuahuabegorrableeding heckbleeding Norabless my heartbless my soulbless usbligeblimeybloody hellbloody Norablow meblow me backwardsblow me downblow me overblow me pink
Also see
by the living jingowow

Origin

  1. BasqueJainkoa“god”
  2. Englishby jingo

Uncertain for a long time. Main theories include: * a minced oath of "by Jesus"; compare crikey, zounds, egads, etc. * a corruption ultimately of "by St. Gingoulph", in reference to Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy. * a borrowing from Basque Jainkoa (“god”); compare by Jove. Basque sailors ― a common famous occupation for their people, who often swore by their term for God ― travelled far through the seas for centuries, and often met Englishmen.

More words from Basque

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

by jingo. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20jingo

MLA

“by jingo.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20jingo. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “by jingo,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20jingo.

Source: by jingo on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.