donder and blitzen

/ˈdɒndəɹ ən ˈblɪtsən/

interjection

An expression of exasperation.

OriginDutch donder →
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Meanings

interjection
  1. An expression of exasperation.

    “Donder and blitzen! You speak fondly for the robber— perhaps you have seen him?”

    1850, The United States Magazine and Democratic Review, volume 7, Langtree and O'Sullivan, page 161
    2 more examples

    “Donder and blitzen!” he burst forth, “but this is a shock, who would have thought it? The house of Bennet and Ford to be shaken thus! What is to be done?”

    1832, John Timbs, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, volume 20, John Limbird, page 58

    Scrooge McDuck: (Groan!) I'm beginning to feel that I'm in trouble! Narrator: Up in the air, Flintheart Glomgold is suddenly feeling that way, too! Flintheart Glomgold: Donder and blitzen! My engine's flaming out!

    1966, Carl Barks, “So Far and no Safari”, in Uncle Scrooge #61

Origin

  1. Dutchdonder“thunder”
  2. Englishdonder and blitzen

From Donner (or Donder) and Blitzen (or Blixem), the last two reindeer of Santa Claus's, named from Dutch donder (“thunder”) and bliksem (“lightning”).

More words from Dutch

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

donder and blitzen. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donder%20and%20blitzen

MLA

“donder and blitzen.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donder%20and%20blitzen. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “donder and blitzen,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donder%20and%20blitzen.

Source: donder and blitzen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.