heavens to Betsy

heavens to Betsy

An interjection denoting shock, distress, or surprise. The "Betsy" mentioned here is not definitively known. Heavens to Betsy, you don't look well at all! Is that James? Heavens to Betsy, I haven't seen him in at least 20 years!
See also: Betsy, heaven
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Heavens to Betsy!

Inf. My goodness! (A mild oath.) Heavens to Betsy! What was that noise? Heavens to Betsy! It's good to hear your voice!
See also: Heaven
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

heavens to Betsy

An expression of astonishment. This version of for heaven’s sake, which Charles E. Funk liked well enough to use as the title of one of his books, comes from nineteenth-century America and first appeared in print in 1892. It may be dying out.
See also: Betsy, heaven
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • Heavens to Betsy!
  • Betsy
  • crazy as a betsy bug
  • loon
  • bloody hell
  • come into (one's) own
  • come into its own
  • come into its/your own
  • come into your own
  • come into your/its own
References in periodicals archive
In her article, "Heavens to Betsy," Kristina Rizga transports us to Holland, Michigan, settled more than 150 years ago by conservative Dutch Protestants who isolated themselves to maintain their orthodox religious beliefs.
"You had Donald Trump lie repeatedly and - heavens to Betsy - accusing the most honorable guy in the race of all kinds of dishonesty.
Heavens to Betsy provided the Pretty as a Peacock wool fabric: (518) 851-2149, heavens-to-betsy.com.
No wonder he gets frustrated when he's faced with patients who aren't willing to change their habits - heavens to Betsy, no - but want a magic pill, which will overnight melt away their lard.
Albums like Bikini Kill's Pussy Whipped and Heavens to Betsy's Calculated were put high on a rock critical pedestal, venerated from a thousand feet away where Kathleen Hanna or Corin Tucker's lyrics couldn't hurt you any.
Well, heavens to Betsy, who would accept those conditions for membership today?
When the poetry seems almost in period, he will come out with a modernism like Orgon's cry of "Heavens to Betsy" and sometimes there are pure gags.
Valencia: That Dog, the Misfits, Mika Miko and Heavens to Betsy.
Heavens to Betsy: Irene and Caroline have honed their riding skills on mechanical horse Betsy (above) under the expert eye of Tony Dicken while they have also learned how to deal with saddling up properly, vital for any jockey; Neigh bother to us: Caroline (left) and Irene can't wait to start work in a racing yard
When I finally found my tongue, my response was something like, "Heavens to Betsy, no.
Tucker started out in a two-woman band called Heavens to Betsy. I came across their first primitive home recording on a compilation album.
But, heavens to Betsy, Mr Brunstrom really needs to get out more.
This appears to override all other considerations, even (Heavens to Betsy!) a facility's survey results.
Heavens to Betsy! With "Bat Boy" taking a breather and "Urinetown" in residence uptown, Off Broadway is temporarily without a spoof tuner!
Heavens to Betsy! Now you can ROTFWL up to 150 feet from your computer with the hand-held wireless IMfree.