Blimey

An exclamation, primarily of British origin, used to express surprise, astonishment, excitement, or sometimes mild annoyance. It's a colloquial and informal term, often considered somewhat old-fashioned, and can be employed in a variety of situations. The precise emotion conveyed depends on the context and tone. Historically, it's thought to be a contraction of "God blind me," although the exact origin remains a subject of debate. It is commonly associated with cockney English dialect, particularly in areas of London.

Blimey meaning with examples

• Blimey! I never expected to see you here. What a surprise! I thought you were still on holiday in the Caribbean. This old pub is the last place I thought I’d see you, mate. Fancy bumping into you now of all times, come in and have a pint!
• Blimey, that’s a huge cake! It must be for some special occasion or something. All the people in this village love their cakes so I should not be surprised but it’s very large indeed. What's the occasion for all this baking? I hope there's enough for everyone to enjoy.
• Blimey, the traffic's horrendous today. I'm going to be late for work at this rate. I knew I should have set off earlier this morning but didn’t. I cannot believe how bad this is, it's all stopped. Oh dear, I need to find a way around. I do not know what to do.
• Blimey, look at that performance! The acrobat's moves were truly amazing. It made my jaw drop, I've never seen such skill before! Those flips and twists were beyond belief. This whole show has been fantastic!
• Blimey! The rain came down suddenly, didn’t it. I was not expecting that at all. It’s absolutely pouring now and I forgot my umbrella again. I hope it does not last. It's a complete downpour! I hope this stops soon, so I can get home.