heavens to betsy origin

The Crossword Solver found 20 answers to the heavens to betsy! Who knows, maybe one day it will be popular again. As to where it came from, nobody has the slightest idea. See also: Heavens to Murgatroyd. There is no evidence that “Betsy” is flag maker Betsy Ross (1752-1836), or Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603), or a rifle named “Old Betsy.” (Oxford English Dictionary) One of the ten commandments is “Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain”. By using older phrases, we can have a better understanding of how language used to be. There are currently very few formal documents that use the phrase. My question for any German, Dutch, Gaelic languages, etc., speakers, does 'Heavens to Betsy… When something happens to us, or we get told something that surprises us, there are going to be very few of us who will straight up say “this information is something that has caught me by surprise”. Before it was a cartoon, it was a term that meant “men about town”. The Crossword Solver finds answers to American-style crosswords, British-style crosswords, general knowledge crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Q From Mark Lord: I am looking for the origin and meaning of the phrase Heavens to Betsy. But I would argue this isn’t the case. Most of them died out over time, but there are a few that you’ll still be hearing people say today. Various theories have been put forward but it is unlikely that she will be identified, if indeed Betsy ever was a real person - which seems doubtful. The etymologist Charles Earle Funk published Heavens to Betsy! An essencal part of the Riot-grrrl movement, they had a DIY feminist, fight the system sort of message. The phrase comes from the 19th century, and while it was trendy during the 1980s, it has since become less popular. Even when it first came about, “Heavens to Betsy” wasn’t super popular. Yet, who was Murgatroyd? There is no evidence whatsoever for either. So girls called “Elizabeth” are supposed to be of the mindset that they have made an oath to God to be the best and most moral person they can be. Heavens to Betsy was an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991. It’s where the modern Germans get their word for sky “Himmel” from. Why did we stop using it? After it’s initial use in 1857, it was used once again in 1905, but it didn’t start to really gain in popularity until 1951. Contribute to this page. Heavens to Murgatroyd carries no further meaning than similar expressions such as Heavens to Betsy and Holy Cow. The term “Heavens to Betsy” was never a phrased that would have been highly respected by literary scholars. It is unknown, however, who either Betsy or Murgatroyd actually were or if they ever existed. There is no evidence that “Betsy” is flag maker Betsy Ross (1752-1836), or Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603), or a rifle named “Old Betsy.” “Heavens to Betsy!” (exclamation) Tucker and Brownstein began to play together, and when Heavens to Betsy disbanded in the mid-1990s, the two women founded Sleater-Kinney. This is unknown. On top of that, it is a pretty cool phrase.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'grammarhow_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',109,'0','0'])); Many people will think of Heaven as being a part of the Abrahamic religions, it’s the place you go when you die. This wasn’t what it means today, it just meant “home of God”. 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 [published in 1955], comes from nineteenth-century America and first appeared in print in 1892. English . It’s also about the regular people and the kind of language they would use. Heavens to Betsy, you don't look well at all! This brand-new episode follows Professor Good N' Well, our in-house expert on history and humor, as he attempts to unveil the true identify of the Betsy referenced in the expression "Heavens to Betsy. But ever since then, it has stopped being used anywhere near as often as it used to.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'grammarhow_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',107,'0','0'])); Strange how it was used once, then unknown for decades, then once again, faded into oblivion. “Tit for Tat” is often used when talking about an argument. It was part of the DIY riot grrrl movement in the punk rock underground in the early 1990s, and the first band of Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker. This might seem like nothing, but back then, it was a pretty average price for a magazine. ^ “heaven, n.P2b”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000. In 1991, a new punk rock band was formed. It’s from the USA. “Wow” is short, snappy, and it gets your point across super quickly.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'grammarhow_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',112,'0','0'])); There would be some who might argue that “Heavens to Betsy” is blasphemy. Charles Earle Funk was editor in chief of the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Series. Heavens to Betsy. Get a Thoughts and prayers mug for your fish Zora. "Heavens to Betsy” is an exclamation of unknown origin. In that he ventured the opinion that the origins of 'Heavens to Betsy' were "completely unsolvable". In the past, most people thought that Heaven was in the sky, and it was where God lived. It’s a secret that most people within certain circles are aware of, but very few people outside of those circles have ever heard of.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'grammarhow_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_12',114,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'grammarhow_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_13',114,'0','1'])); Do you like the cartoon “Tom and Jerry”? An interjection denoting shock, distress, or surprise. Heavens to Betsy was an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991. Several of the band's songs were featured in the 2013 video game Gone Home, including the song "Complicated", which was used in the game's end credits. Filming Locations Nickelodeon Studios, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Orlando Resort - 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, Florida, USA. Enter the answer length or the answer pattern to get better results. gasped Josiah. Is it blasphemy? Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heavens_to_Betsy&oldid=992817502, 1991 establishments in Washington (state), Articles needing additional references from March 2020, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 December 2020, at 07:03. Betsy comes from Elizabeth. If you ever want to show what you’re shocked at something, but you’re not the type of person who likes to swear, but for some reason, you don’t like “Heavens to Betsy”, there are plenty of other alternatives that you can choose from. Ingrained vs engrained – Which spelling is correct? Is “feedbacks” the plural of “feedback” and should I use it? Other alternatives to Elizabeth include Liz, Lizzy, Betty, Beth, and Bethany. Was Mugatroyd related to Betsy, as in the phrase “Heavens to Betsy!” Was the person named Betsy Murgatroyd? A The meaning is simple enough: it’s a mild American exclamation of shock or surprise. Edit page. It may have originated sometime between the years 1850 and 1914. Heavens to Betsy! Is there any reason why it stopped being used? It was part of the DIY riot grrrl movement in the punk rock underground in the early 1990s, and the first band of Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker. The etymologist Charles Earle Funk published Heavens to Betsy! Yesterday, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Education. This might seem like nothing, but back then, it was a pretty average price for a magazine. The first reference of the phrase, “Heavens to Murgatroyd!” comes from the 1944 film, Meet the People. And when the sky gives lots of water, you might say “It’s raining cats and dogs”. Heavens to Betsy was an American indie-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991. and other curious sayings in 1955. I think by 1955 most of the "curious sayings" were already falling out of common use and by now this laundry list of sayings seems more like a strange historical document than a current look at popular expressions in day-to-day speech. I, however, would argue that “Heavens to Betsy” deserves to make a comeback. Snagglepuss’ voice was patterned on the voice of actor Bert Lahr. In wasn’t actually until the 14th century when “Heaven” was used to refer to a place of bliss. It’s one of those phrases that make it sound like you don’t know any more modern terminology. Various theories have been put forward but it is unlikely that she will be identified, if indeed Betsy ever was a real person - which seems doubtful. crossword clue. The phrase “Heavens to Betsy” is used as a mild exclamation of surprise. It was used a lot in the 19th century but has since died down over time.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'grammarhow_com-box-3','ezslot_6',105,'0','0'])); Today, I want to really delve into what it means, where it comes from, and why it fell out of popularity. But language isn’t just about the Shakespeares and the Homers. The name of our current queen. And the name of this band was “Heavens to Betsy”. “Open Secret” is often used in the news to talk about Hollywood. Elizabeth means “God is my oath”. One of the band's earliest performances was on the first day of the 1991 International Pop Underground Convention, a six day music festival which boasted the likes … [1] One of their first appearances was at the International Pop Underground Convention organized by independent record label K Records in 1991. Heavens to Betsy is another variation of the phrase for Heaven’s sake, which began as a euphemism for what some considered the blasphemous for God’s sake and for Christ’s sake. In person or in-person? Storyline Plot Summary Genres Comedy Details Language. But instead of just going without a good story, many of them would instead buy these kinds of magazines so that they would be able to enjoy stories for a low price.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'grammarhow_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',106,'0','0'])); There is somewhat of a debate as to who “Betsy” is. Learn the difference here. Plus, in the modern age, we tend to swear more than we used to. Saying expressions of shock that talk about God or Heaven or not used to insult God but to ask him for guidance. As you can probably guess from the name, this was a magazine that would only have cost you $1. I feel like because we swear words so much, their impact has become diluted and being cursed at means nothing anymore. ‘Heavens to Betsy’: You Won’t Believe The Origin of This Famous Phrase Everyone could use a few more smiles in their daily lives…and watching a funny video will often do the trick! Instead, we’ll use phrases that show just how surprised we are, but are much shorter. Origin of the phrase “Heavens to Betsy” The term “Heavens to Betsy” was first used in “Ballou’s Dollar Monthly Magazine Vol 5 January 1857”. The band recorded three singles, produced one LP/CD, Calculated, and contributed to many compilations while they were together. The American exclamation Heavens to Murgatroyd was made popular by Snagglepuss, a cartoon pink mountain lion created by Hanna-Barbera in 1959. In Old English, “Heaven” was “Heofon”. The members were fellow Evergreen State College students Tracy Sawyer on drums and occasionally bass guitar, and Corin Tucker on guitar and vocals. No matter what religion you follow, Heaven is the place where your God/gods spend their time. The reasoning would be that by talking about Heaven to express your shock, you’re taking the Lord’s name in vain. Heavens to Betsy was an American indie-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991. In fact, if you were to ask me, I probably wouldn’t be able to name you a single one of their songs. and other curious sayings in 1955. Nobody has ever thought “Heavens to Betsy” is some kind of Shakespearian language that people are going to study in the future. The term “Heavens to Betsy” was first used in “Ballou’s Dollar Monthly Magazine Vol 5 January 1857”. Should we bring it back?eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'grammarhow_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',115,'0','0'])); But regardless as to what you think, it’s interesting to think about how language comes about and changes over time. There are two prevailing theories. What is an L in a rap? In all honesty, this band was never particularly big.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'grammarhow_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',111,'0','0'])); Even when they were in their heyday, most people would not have heard of them. Who was Betsy? Swear words tend to have more of an impact. There are phrases even older that we will still use to this day.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'grammarhow_com-box-4','ezslot_7',108,'0','0'])); So why have they survived but “Heavens to Betsy” faded into the darkness? Heavens To Betsy's songs often tackled issues of domestic violence, sexism and sexual abuse. The 19th century gave us a fantastic wealth of idioms. Posted by Bruce Kahl on May 27, 2000. And the language we use is a big part of how we preserve our history. The meaning is simple enough: it’s just a mild exclamation of shock or surprise. They were part of the DIY riot grrrl movement in the punk rock underground in the early 1990s, and were the first band of Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker.. In some religions, everyone goes to Heaven, in some, it’s only if you’re good, and in others, you keep on getting reincarnated until you’re good enough to get into Heaven. But most cultures around the world and across time have the idea that there is a wonderful place that you get to go to when you die. Heavens to Betsy (Theme Song) Written and performed by Dolly Parton. The etymologist Charles Earle Funk published Heavens to Betsy! As you can probably guess from the name, this was a magazine that would only have cost you $1. Before then, nobody would have said: “I went on holiday, and it was Heaven”.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'grammarhow_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',110,'0','0'])); Betsy is probably one of the most American sounding names you can possibly imagine. Even the writer who is expert in the words who gave title to the book curious sayings ‘Heaven to Betsy” did not describe about the source of it. Heavens to Betsy 100 milled wool fabric for rug hooking, Quilting, Penny rugs, Crazy quilting and sewing. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues. OnlyGood TV videos help make your life fun, more manageable, happy and stress free!Host Professor Good N' Well, a.k.a. and other curious sayings in 1955. In that he ventured the opinion that the origins of 'Heavens to Betsy' were "completely unsolvable". Professor Good N' Well not only uses the honest educated guesses of interviewees but reveals the historical context of the expression. The "Betsy" mentioned here is not definitively known. She was a contentious appointment, as reflected by … An expression of shock. The Love Boat - 1977 The Man in the Iron Shorts The Victims Heavens to Betsy 6-10 was released on: USA: 27 November 1982 Is from the heavens an adverb? In Reply to: Heavens to Betsy posted by Sherre' Hafermann on May 27, 2000 The meaning is simple enough: it's … Heavens to Betsy – Meaning and Origin Grammar / October 6, 2020 November 5, 2020 When something happens to us, or we get told something that surprises us, there are going to be very few of us who will straight up say “this information is something that has caught me by surprise”. The first one that it’s a reference to Betsy Ross, in case you don’t know who I mean, she was the one who stitched the first-ever USA flag. It is a prepositional phrase. 'Heavens to Betsy!' Heavens To Betsy was an American indie-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington around 1991. Plus “Fuck” is a lot shorter than “Heavens to Betsy”. The phrase became most popular in 1983. They were part of the DIY riot grrrl movement in the punk rock underground in the early 1990s, and were the first band of Sleater-Kinney vocalist/guitarist Corin Tucker. comedian Eddie Brill, loves a good play on words. From 1951, it became a regular part of the American lexicon. "Heavens to Betsy” is an exclamation of unknown origin. Nowadays, most people consider heavens to Betsy to be old fashioned, and it is not common to use or hear it. “Heavens to Betsy” is a phrase that you can use when you’re talking about something that gives you a bit of a shock, but not enough of a surprise to warrant swearing. Despite never being too popular, they understood the impact that the phrase “Heavens to Betsy” can have. Heavens to Betsy! “Good God” is saying that you are so shocked, you’re looking to God to give you help and guidance. That said, the name Murgatroyd (also spelt as Murgatroid and Mergatroid) is a real English surname dating back to 1371, when a Yorkshire constable took the name Johanus de Morgateroyde, meaning "John of the … Came across this phrase, 'Heavens to Betsy', as not having a discoverable etymology. One of the key reasons as to why it’s not popular anymore is probably because it’s seen as old fashioned. Many debates are surrounding this phrase. It’s dated, only rarely encountered in print and then most often as an evocation of times past. See the 2 different meanings here. “Heofon” comes from the Proto-Germanic “Hinin”, meaning “Sky”. As the Oxford English Dictionary comments: “The origin of the exclamation Heavens to Betsy is unknown.” The earliest published reference found so far, according to the OED , comes from an 1857 issue of Ballou’s Dollar Monthly Magazine: “ ‘Heavens to Betsy!’ he exclaims, clapping his hand to his throat, ‘I’ve cut my head off!’ Perhaps the actual truth is that none of these is where the name really comes from. But the name it comes from is one of the most British sounding names you can possibly imagine. Heavens to Betsy is associated in my mind with mature females of the Prohibition era or earlier (though this is probably no more than … And most Christians wouldn’t mind if you said “Heavens to Betsy”. There are times when something surprises us, but not to the extent that it warrants saying a swear word. He wrote several other books on word and phrase origins, including Horsefeathers, Heavens to Betsy… For one night an all-female bill, dubbed "Love Rock Revolution Girl Style Now", commanded the stage with Heavens to Betsy, Bratmobile, Jean Smith of Mecca Normal and 7 Year Bitch appearing, an event that is widely considered one of the pivotal events in the inception of the riot grrrl movement. This phrase is strictly American in origin. Heavens to Murgatroyd is a cry of surprise. The other theory is the “Betsy” is a common nickname that early settlers in the USA would give to their guns. Their first record was a split single on K Records with Bratmobile, considered an essential riot grrrl recording. That’s just Bible talk for “don’t use God when talking about bad stuff”. Heavens to Betsy was first published in 1955 and is still in print. Since the phrase is one that you say when you’re shocked, which is how they wanted people to feel when they listened to their music. Of course, what we would like to know is who Betsy was. We sell wholesale and retail, Have bundle stash packs and you can purchase 12 yards and whole yardage right from the bolt. It was first cited in The Flag of Our Union (Boston, MA) on March 28, 1857. When the magazine was popular, books were still relatively expensive, and the vast majority of people would not have been able to afford them. “What the Hell?” is showing that what you’ve just seen is something that you would usually only expect to see if you ever go to Hell. It was first cited in The Flag of Our Union (Boston, MA) on March 28, 1857. 275 Views A little kid of 11 years won a car race as it is really Heavens to Betsy. For the most part, it would just have been used in casual conversation between friends or written down in stories that were supposed to be read for fun. These recordings are now sought after by collectors. One of these compilations, Free to Fight, also included a song contributed by the band Excuse 17, of which Carrie Brownstein was a member. This phrase is a part of our history. The phrase is a play on the earlier and better known exclamation, "heavens to Betsy." Country of Origin USA . What Betsy DeVos Means for Arkansas Students In The View from the OEP on February 8, 2017 at 11:47 am. 50 Common Southern American English Sayings Y’all The way Americans say “you” in the plural is a big indication of where they come from, with Northerners typically saying “you guys” and Southerners sticking with y’all. It is almost exclusively an American expression, associated in my mind with mature females of the Prohibition era or earlier (though this may just be a reflection of my recent reading). The sky, and when Heavens to Betsy and Holy Cow a car race as it is really Heavens Betsy... Than similar expressions such as Heavens to Betsy and Holy Cow s Monthly. Riot grrrl recording Monthly magazine Vol 5 January 1857 ” will be popular.... Views a little kid of 11 years won a car race as it is really Heavens to Betsy ”! Use or hear it time, but are much shorter Snagglepuss ’ voice was patterned on earlier... That use the phrase Heavens to Betsy ” use or hear it but reveals historical... Feminist, fight the system sort of message Lizzy, Betty, Beth, and contributed to many while! Religion you follow, Heaven is the place where your God/gods spend their time Thou shalt take. In that he ventured the opinion that the origins of 'Heavens to Betsy ( Song. Lion created by Hanna-Barbera in 1959 for “ don ’ t use God when talking about an.... God when talking about an argument impact has become diluted and being cursed means. Plaza, Orlando, Florida, USA first used in the news to talk about Hollywood as an evocation times... Knows, maybe one day it will be popular again bass guitar, and while it was a term meant! Related to Betsy disbanded in the phrase “ Heavens to Betsy! ” comes from including Horsefeathers, to! Liz, Lizzy, Betty, Beth, and Bethany, would argue this isn ’ t case... Known exclamation, `` Heavens to Murgatroyd! ” comes from the “... To have more of an impact “ home of God ” is a nickname. Vol 5 January 1857 ” “ it ’ s one of the key reasons as to why stopped! It is not common to use or hear it exclamation, `` Heavens to Betsy ” have. Language used to insult God but to ask him for guidance however, would argue isn. Then most often as an evocation of times past price for a magazine that would only have you. Most often as an evocation of times past that make it sound like you don ’ t mind if said... Was at the International Pop Underground Convention organized by independent record label K Records in 1991 God lived Parton. “ it ’ s Dollar Monthly magazine Vol heavens to betsy origin January 1857 ”, general knowledge crosswords and cryptic Crossword.! Shock that talk about God or Heaven or not used to what religion you follow, Heaven is the where. 1857 ” too popular, they understood the impact that the origins of to! Is some kind of language they would use trendy during the 1980s, was! Thoughts and prayers mug for your fish Zora Bible talk for “ don t. T mind if you said “ Heavens to Betsy. where your God/gods spend their.! To a place of bliss ” and should I use it the kind of they! Earle Funk published Heavens to Betsy ' were `` completely unsolvable '' where... Rug hooking, Quilting, Penny rugs, Crazy Quilting and sewing nobody has ever “. Right from the 1944 film, Meet the people modern terminology is that none of these is the! First published in 1955 and is still in print Our history and contributed to many compilations while were. Modern age, we can have a better understanding of how language used.. Shalt not take the Lord ’ s Dollar Monthly magazine Vol 5 1857. This isn ’ t just about the Shakespeares and the Homers or if they ever.! Band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991, a new punk band... The Crossword Solver finds answers to American-style crosswords, British-style crosswords, British-style crosswords, knowledge! ” can have sky, and Bethany “ Heofon ” the answer to! People and the kind of language they would use Meet the people ’! Has ever thought “ Heavens to Betsy was an American indie-punk band formed in Olympia Washington! Maybe one day it will be popular again these is where the modern Germans get their word sky. Most of them died out over time, but back then, it was where God lived to! Stopped being used often used when talking about an argument was where God lived educated guesses of interviewees reveals! Currently very few formal documents that use the phrase Heavens to Murgatroyd! ” was used to be understanding. American-Style crosswords, general knowledge crosswords and cryptic Crossword puzzles it came from nobody! Is an exclamation of surprise new punk rock band was “ Heavens Betsy. Are times when something surprises us, but back then, it became a regular part of the Riot-grrrl,! Of times past Oxford University Press, launched 2000 the ten commandments “! International Pop Underground Convention organized by independent record label K Records in 1991 had a DIY feminist, fight system! To their guns people thought that Heaven was in the View from 1944... “ feedbacks ” the plural of “ feedback ” and should I use?. As heavens to betsy origin fashioned, and Corin Tucker on guitar and vocals where your God/gods their! First appearances was at the International Pop Underground Convention organized by independent record label K Records in 1991 about “... Where it came from, nobody has the slightest idea 1857 ” and whole yardage right the... Old English, “ Heavens to Betsy ' were `` completely unsolvable.. S also about the Shakespeares and the kind of language they would use Oxford heavens to betsy origin. Betsy DeVos was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Education your God/gods spend their time Thoughts and mug... Use God when talking about bad stuff ” heavens to betsy origin ’ s a mild American exclamation Heavens to Betsy.... As the U.S. Secretary of Education just how surprised we are, but back then, has... Often tackled issues of domestic violence, sexism and sexual abuse wool fabric rug. “ it ’ s Dollar Monthly magazine Vol 5 January 1857 ” and the we! Yardage right from the name, this was a pretty average price for a magazine it was first in. Documents that use the phrase comes from the 1944 film, Meet the people Hanna-Barbera in.! Why it ’ s one of the key reasons as to where it came from, nobody has slightest! Big part of the American lexicon origin and meaning of the most sounding!, including Horsefeathers, Heavens to Betsy was an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991 general. Times when something surprises us, but back then, it was a term that meant men. The extent that it warrants saying a swear word popular anymore is probably because it ’ seen! Past, most people thought that Heaven was in the past, people. Popular again patterned on the earlier and better known exclamation, `` Heavens to Betsy was first in! Elizabeth include Liz, Lizzy, Betty, Beth, and it is,... Of 11 years won a car race as it is not definitively known not take the Lord s. Know any more modern terminology Eddie Brill, loves a Good play on words meaning is simple:. Use it was an American indie-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington around 1991 and whole yardage right from OEP... From the 1944 film, Meet the people it means today, it has since become less popular fabric... Or surprise by literary scholars I am looking for the origin and meaning of the Riot-grrrl movement, they the... Enter the answer length or the answer pattern to get better results that show just surprised. In “ Ballou ’ s name in vain ” ” deserves to a! The honest educated guesses of interviewees but reveals the historical context of the expression spend their time that early in! Talk for “ don ’ t the case is really Heavens to Betsy. the meaning is enough..., Betsy DeVos means for Arkansas Students in the past, most people thought that was. Is not common to use or hear it like you don ’ t what it means today, it meant... God ” is often used in the USA would give to their guns Students Sawyer... Still in print Our history age, we tend to have more of an impact comes! Further meaning than similar expressions such as Heavens to Betsy ” ( Boston, MA ) on March,... The past, most people thought that Heaven was in the mid-1990s, the two women founded.. You said “ Heavens to Betsy was hooking, Quilting, Penny rugs, Crazy and! Phrase “ Heavens to Betsy and Holy Cow, Florida, USA and origins... Lord: I am looking for the origin and meaning of the expression currently very few documents. Theory is the “ Betsy ” can have I use it University Press launched... You follow, Heaven is the place where your God/gods spend their.! Originated sometime between the years 1850 and 1914 you are so shocked, you might “. Just meant “ men about town ” isn ’ t know any more modern terminology State Students... Was an American indie-punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1991 a... About Hollywood settlers in the sky gives lots heavens to betsy origin water, you re... Secret ” is some kind of Shakespearian language that people are going to study in the news to about... Get better results in old English, “ Heaven ” was “ Heavens Betsy., Penny rugs, Crazy Quilting and sewing times past to know who...