I'll be blowed

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I'll be blowed

/ˌaɪl biː ˈbləʊd/ UK
/ˌaɪl bi ˈbloʊd/ US

Rhymes with -əʊd

Where it comes from

Probably a hyperbole expressing that the speaker is so surprised it is as if they have been blown over by a gust of wind: compare blow me down and blow me over, and also knock someone over with a feather, which have the same sense. Used as a euphemism for I'll be damned; compare also blasted.

interjection I'll be blown

UK, dated, euphemistic, informal Used to express amazement and surprise. Well, I’ll be blowed if it isn’t my old school friend, John!
Similar: blow me, blow me down, blow me over, blow me pink, blow me tight, crikey, gosh, I'm blowed, adzooks, ay, caramba, mirabile dictu

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MLA

"I'll be blowed." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/i'll%20be%20blowed. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

I'll be blowed. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/i'll%20be%20blowed

Chicago

"I'll be blowed." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/i'll%20be%20blowed.

BibTeX

@misc{i_ll_be_blowed_2026,
  title = {I'll be blowed},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/i'll%20be%20blowed},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}