Never in six plus decades heard it uttered aloud in real life, except as a mock pretension of shock. Most recently used with any frequency in the “Back to the Future” movies. Traces back to at least the middle of the 19th century. Likeliest origin is the use of the expression by soldiers under the leadership so General Winfield Scott. Comics fans remember it as a common exclamation of Superman, along with Perry White’s “Great Caesars Ghost!”
There’s not a lot of similarity between the assembly-line setup and this one. Should one of them have gained the all-time exclusive franchise on gags where candy is consumed?
As for the origin of “Great Caesar’s Ghost” used as an exclamation…. It’s one of the “G” words and phrases used when one doesn’t want to use the name of God in a casual or blasphemous way. The person may start to say the unacceptable phrase and thinks better of it, or decides not to risk offense, or sees Mom listening nearby, so the “G” sound already formed slides into Gee Whiz (which also substitutes for Jee-Zus), or just Gee, or Gosh, Golly, Goodness Sakes or just Goodness, Gracious, Goodness Gracious, or the like. Note all “G” sounds. Some people even substitute another phrase entirely, like “God bless America.” These work if someone has already said “God” and decides to recontextualize it. I had a friend who’d say, “God (slight pause) Zilla! Anyway, Great Caesar’s Ghost is one more. It’s at least a hundred years old and was at that time the name of a comic strip. Probably ties in some way to the appearance of the ghost of Caesar to Brutus in Shakespeare’s play
On the Dennis the Menace sitcoms, George Wilson often shouted, “Great Scott!” Later, there was a grocery store in town called, “Great Scott!” with the words in white letters with two big red hearts in the background for their advertisements.
bigcatbusiness almost 8 years ago
Now you’ll not only have cavities, you’ll have a major stomachache.
gimmickgenius almost 8 years ago
Who did it first – Charlie and Schroeder or Lucy (Ricardo) and Ethel?
orinoco womble almost 8 years ago
How long is it since you heard anyone say “Great Scott!”
jimmjonzz Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Never in six plus decades heard it uttered aloud in real life, except as a mock pretension of shock. Most recently used with any frequency in the “Back to the Future” movies. Traces back to at least the middle of the 19th century. Likeliest origin is the use of the expression by soldiers under the leadership so General Winfield Scott. Comics fans remember it as a common exclamation of Superman, along with Perry White’s “Great Caesars Ghost!”
Alida_L almost 8 years ago
My dad used to say it all the time.
The Old Wolf almost 8 years ago
These kids never learn the simple solution: “Snoopy! No!”
Kip W almost 8 years ago
There’s not a lot of similarity between the assembly-line setup and this one. Should one of them have gained the all-time exclusive franchise on gags where candy is consumed?
jrankin1959 almost 8 years ago
Great! Now we can throw up in peace…
Max Starman Jones almost 8 years ago
I just thought that I might be able to make a little money if I could develop a filter program that substitutes “Great Scott” for those gutter words.
jimmjonzz Premium Member almost 8 years ago
As for the origin of “Great Caesar’s Ghost” used as an exclamation…. It’s one of the “G” words and phrases used when one doesn’t want to use the name of God in a casual or blasphemous way. The person may start to say the unacceptable phrase and thinks better of it, or decides not to risk offense, or sees Mom listening nearby, so the “G” sound already formed slides into Gee Whiz (which also substitutes for Jee-Zus), or just Gee, or Gosh, Golly, Goodness Sakes or just Goodness, Gracious, Goodness Gracious, or the like. Note all “G” sounds. Some people even substitute another phrase entirely, like “God bless America.” These work if someone has already said “God” and decides to recontextualize it. I had a friend who’d say, “God (slight pause) Zilla! Anyway, Great Caesar’s Ghost is one more. It’s at least a hundred years old and was at that time the name of a comic strip. Probably ties in some way to the appearance of the ghost of Caesar to Brutus in Shakespeare’s play
gantech almost 8 years ago
Dr. Emmit Brown’s favorite expression.
english.ann almost 8 years ago
On the Dennis the Menace sitcoms, George Wilson often shouted, “Great Scott!” Later, there was a grocery store in town called, “Great Scott!” with the words in white letters with two big red hearts in the background for their advertisements.
jjonas almost 8 years ago
my local ice cream shop has a Sunday called the great scott.