Where did the saying 'By George, I think I've got it!' originate?

Question

Where did the saying 'By George, I think I've got it!' originate?

Question #20522. Asked by Angel.
Last updated Aug 22 2016.

Related Trivia Topics: Idioms and Proverbs

stedman

Answer has 13 votes

Currently Best Answer

stedman

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22 year member
121 replies avatar

Answer has 13 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

The exclamation "By George" is much older than this, being first recorded in the 16th century.

As the Grammarphobia website explains,

"The word "George" here is a substitute for "God," as are words like "golly," "ginger," "gosh," "gum," and so on in other similar euphemistic oaths."

http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2012/01/by-george.html

Aug 22 2016, 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

fpgjc
Answer has 4 votes

fpgjc

Answer has 4 votes.

The question has been misquoted ,it should be 'By George I think SHE's got it'
from the 1965 film ' My Fair Lady'

Response last updated by stedman on Aug 22 2016.
Jul 11 2002, 2:27 PM

Answer 2

terryproantrim
Answer has 3 votes

terryproantrim
24 year member
121 replies

Answer has 3 votes.

But surely it first appeared in George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion', the play on which 'My Fair Lady' the stage and later screen musical was based.Shaw's play was first produced in 1913.

Jul 12 2002, 12:33 AM

Answer 3

fpgjc
Answer has 3 votes

fpgjc

Answer has 3 votes.

I have searched the play and although there are several ' by George ' comments the actual phrase 'I think she's got it' does not appear.

http://www.bartleby.com/138/6.html

Jul 12 2002, 9:54 AM

Where did the saying 'By George, I think I've got it!' originate?

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