# my word

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/my-word
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An expression of surprise.

## Examples

- My word, that is a very tall building!
- My word, I did not expect to see you here at this time of night.
- My word, the sheer scale of the landscape before us is truly breathtaking to behold.

## Origin

Derived from the full oath *upon my word*, a phrase which has functioned as a formal attestation of truth since the seventeenth century. The abbreviated form emerged as a milder expression of surprise or emphasis, retaining the structure of the original pledge while shedding the gravity of the legal or social commitment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.