good Heavens | good Lord | good grief

INFORMAL
This page is about the conversational phrase good Heavens | good Lord | good grief

Meaning

You can say this if you're very surprised or shocked by something.

For example

  • Margaret looked at her watch and said, "Good Heavens, is that the time? I must be going."

  • "Enzo got the top score in the exam."
    "Good Lord! That lazy little so-and-so. He must have cheated!"

Note:
These expressions are a little old-fashioned these days.

Quick Quiz

I said, "James got into university!" and Hugo said, "Good grief!

a. How did he manage that?"

b. I always knew he would."

c. I'm sorry to hear that."
a) How did he manage that?" b) I always knew he would." c) I'm sorry to hear that."

Contributor: Matt Errey