by thunder

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English

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Adverb

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by thunder (not comparable)

  1. Used for emphasis, sometimes with a threatening implication.
    • 1849, Masonic Signet and Literary Mirror, volume 1, page 379:
      "Mr. Pillow, Sir, none of your impertinence, or I will chastise you as well as this fellow." "That's a two handed game, by thunder," said Long Tom, " [] I dare you to deadly combat. [] "
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 76:
      "Have it out with him to-night. Fair and square. Out he goes, Edmund, neck and crop. Out, by thunder."
    • 1999, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 283:
      'Shocking business ... shocking ... miracle none of them died ... never heard the like ... by thunder, it was lucky you were there, Snape ...'