by Jove

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Idioms and Phrases

Also, by cracky . Used to express surprise or emphasis. For example, By Jove, I was glad to see her , or It was a great day, by cracky . These mild oaths are euphemisms, the first for “by Jesus” or “by God” (Jove is another name for Jupiter, the principal Roman god), and the folksy variant by cracky for “by Christ.” Both idioms may be dying out.

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Example Sentences

It marked as it were the high water mark of what was left to him of life; and this other letter in his hand-by Jove!

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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