Meaning & use
gadzooks
Last updated
Meaning
interjectionold-fashionedhumorous
An old exclamation expressing surprise, shock, or mild annoyance, now used mainly for playful effect.
Grammar: Used alone as an exclamation, often at the start of a sentence: Gadzooks, that hurt!
Patterns
- Gadzooks!
- Gadzooks, ...
Gadzooks! I didn't expect to see you here.
Gadzooks, that was a close call!
He shouted 'Gadzooks!' when he saw the mess in the kitchen.
Common combinations
- Gadzooks!
- Gadzooks! What on earth happened here?
- cry gadzooks
- The actor had to cry 'Gadzooks!' in a fake old accent.
- say gadzooks
- She said 'gadzooks' with a grin, knowing how silly it sounded.
- utter gadzooks
- No one utters 'gadzooks' in a serious conversation today.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: gadzooks or gadzooks?
gadzooks vs gadzooks
Not to be confused with 'gadget' or 'gadfly'; 'gadzooks' is only an exclamation.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'gadzooks' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Gadzooks' is an interjection, so it stands alone to express surprise. The other options treat it as a verb, adjective, or noun, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gadzooks”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.