I believe it is primarily an American phrase, used as an exclamation:
Heavens to Betsy, no! I would never do such a thing!
What is the origin of that phrase? Do we know who Betsy is?
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Charles E. Funk suggests that its origins are "completely unsolvable." I am of the opinion that the phrase is pseudo-profanity derived from "Hell's Bells", but there is no evidence of that, either. |
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