Whats That Doing In There!

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Found an old idiomatic expression in the Raymond Chandler book I'm reading. Its I SWAN.

Everyone gets it wrong, and I haven't heard it in 60 years.

But it means ASTONISHMENT. SURPRISE is too weak.

Its not a swear word substitute like GOLLY or GOSH or DAGNABBIT.

Why would it be used out in Los Angeles? Its a rural Southern expression.

 

[R. Richard]

"I swan" is very frequently used in western stories. It's apparently considered to be something that a cowboy would use, in the appropriate situation.

 

[TE999]

I always think of the expression 'I swan' (an euphemism for 'I swear to God) as being used in rural areas, more specifically the South and Midwest. Chandlers character might have been an Okie who migrated west during the Depression.

 

[sr71plt]

It doesn't mean either "astonishment" or "surprise." It means "declare." It's in Websters.

It was used by many cowboys in the old West because a large proportion of cowboys migrated there from the South after the Civil War.

 

[glynndah]

My SIL is from Kentucky. She says "Well, I swanny" all the time. According to her usage, the definition is along the lines of "I swear", but since her family were all good Southern Baptists, they didn't swear, hence the "swanny".

 

[sr71plt]

My SIL is from Kentucky. She says "Well, I swanny" all the time. According to her usage, the definition is along the lines of "I swear", but since her family were all good Southern Baptists, they didn't swear, hence the "swanny".

Yes, Webster's also has the "swear" definition. But in terms of taking an oath, not cussing.

And Baptists do swear--on the Bible in the sense of taking an oath.

 

[glynndah]

Yes, Webster's also has the "swear" definition. But in terms of taking an oath, not cussing.

And Baptists do swear--on the Bible in the sense of taking an oath.

Think "Well, I declare!" said in a very cloying Scarlett O'Hara accent.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I always think of the expression 'I swan' (an euphemism for 'I swear to God) as being used in rural areas, more specifically the South and Midwest. Chandlers character might have been an Okie who migrated west during the Depression.

Philip Marlowe said it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Chandlers an interesting guy. Born in Chicago, raised in Nebraska and London. Oil man, started writing when he was close to 50.