What is the word equalvancy to "oh crikey and oh blimey!"?

Question

I have a coworker who has lived in the states for most of her 83 years, but spent her childhood in England. Anyway, not the point. She always is saying "oh blimey!" "Oh crikey" when something happens that a spill or a mishap. She uses it like I would use "oh sh't!" Anyway, out of curiosity I ask her if those words were like our "oh sh't," and she lost her crikey on me! She always is using these expressions around kids and I didn't think anything of it, until she almost had a stroke by asking her this. It has to mean something along those lines, she's using it like that. Then I eased it and said like our "oh shoot" or "oh darn," and that seemed to bring her breathing back down. Thanks

Answer 1

I think blimey originally meant 'God blind me' and so was blasphemous although most people now wouldn't realize or think of it as being so. Australians don't often say blimey but crikey is a word made popular here by the late beloved Steve Irwin would say it on every show. This dude - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksji1dLGuVQ



it's just an expression of surprise like gee whiz, or golly gosh or goodness gracious, or strike me pink :p

Answer 2

The word "blimey" evolved from "gorblimey" which evolved from "God blind me." "Crikey" evolved from "Christ!" so both terms involved taking the name of the Lord in vain. So they were probably shocking when they were first used, but are more common now. And, yes, in America, we'd be more likely to say, "oh, ****!" which would still offend many people.

Answer 3

Neither is considered swearing - they both lost, long ago, their original meanings. They're just expressions of surprise or mild dismay. "Crikey, look at that rain!" "Blimey, look how tall he is"