What does crikey mean?
Crikey is an informal exclamation used to express surprise, astonishment, or sudden alarm. It belongs to the family of English minced oaths — softened substitutes for stronger expressions — in this case standing in for the name "Christ." Though many people now associate it firmly with Australia, thanks in large part to figures like the naturalist Steve Irwin, its roots lie in nineteenth-century British English, where it circulated alongside similar euphemisms such as "blimey" and "cricky." In everyday use it functions much like "gosh" or "goodness": someone might exclaim "Crikey, that was expensive!" or "Crikey, is that the time?" The word carries a lighthearted, slightly old-fashioned flavor rather than genuine shock, and it appears almost exclusively in casual conversation, comedy, and informal writing. For learners of English, it is worth recognizing as a marker of friendly British or Australian register.
exclamation (interjection)An exclamation of surprise, astonishment, or alarm; a euphemistic alteration of "Christ," used to avoid profanity.
- An exclamation of surprise, astonishment, or amazement.
- An exclamation of alarm or dismay.
"Crikey, look at the size of that spider!"
"Crikey, I didn't expect to see you here!"
"Crikey, that was a close call on the motorway."
It sounds quintessentially Australian, but "crikey" actually began as a British way to say "Christ!" without swearing — Steve Irwin just made it famous.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crikey
Crikey originated in nineteenth-century Britain as a minced oath, a deliberately altered pronunciation of "Christ" designed to avoid outright blasphemy. It spread through colloquial British English and became particularly entrenched in Australian slang, where it remains widely recognized. It is related in spirit, though not by shared root, to other euphemistic exclamations like "blimey" (from "God blind me") and "cripes."
How crikey is actually used
Informal and colloquial; strongly associated with British and especially Australian speech. It carries a mildly old-fashioned, good-humored tone and avoids taking the Lord's name in vain, functioning as an oath-substitute. Rare in formal writing.
Easily confused with crikey
"Crikey" is a euphemism for "Christ" expressing surprise, while "blimey" is a separate euphemism derived from "God blind me" with essentially the same function but different origin.