great Caesar's ghost

English

Etymology

Allusion to the play The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar by William Shakespeare, in which Roman emperor Julius Caesar’s ghost appears to Brutus. Used as euphemism in place of good God or similar expressions. Made popular in the 1940s and 1950s by the Superman radio program and comic books.

Interjection

great Caesar’s ghost!

  1. (often humorous) An exclamation of astonishment; good Lord.
    • 1883, Mark Twain, “A Cub-pilot's Experience”, in Life on the Mississippi:
      'By the great Caesar's ghost, I believe you! You're the stupidest dunderhead I ever saw or ever heard of, so help me Moses! The idea of you being a pilot--you! Why, you don't know enough to pilot a cow down a lane.'

Synonyms
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