# What is the origin of the expression "Man, Alive"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572 "2003-08-12T03:22:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_B.Goode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Johnny\_B.Goode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_B.Goode)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/1 "2003-08-12T03:22:05Z")
I hear americans (particularly sportscasters) say this expression sometimes to indicate amazement. Where does it come from? Is it from scouring battlefields after battles? Just what the hell are you americans on about? What the hell is your caper anyway? ---
**Author:** ![BrianS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@BrianS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianS)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/2 "2003-08-12T03:51:06Z")
Sorry, but we’re too drunk and busy playing with our millions of guns and roping cattle to take your call right now. Please leave your message after the blarg. BLARRRRGH! ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/3 "2003-08-12T10:22:18Z")
I don’t know the answer, but it’s not purely an American expression: there was a British TV show called Man Alive in the 1960s and 1970s, and it’s also the title of a G. K. Chesterton story. ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/4 "2003-08-12T14:13:54Z")
The now defunt Maven’s Word of the Day site gives an [answer](http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20000417), but I don’t think it’s very helpful. The site basically says it’s just an emphatic expression. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/5 "2003-08-12T15:05:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny B. Goode \* > **I hear americans (particularly sportscasters) say this expression sometimes to indicate amazement. Where does it come from?** This expression is not common in America. I’ve lived in the U.S. all my life, and have never heard it once. I’ve heard “Man!” used as a catch-all interjection, and I’ve heard “sakes alive!” used similarly. Maybe you heard someone who’s got the quirk of mentally combining the two interjections. Otherwise, I am at a loss. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny B. Goode \* > \*\*Is it from scouring battlefields after battles? Just what the hell are you americans on about? What the hell is your caper anyway? \*\* This paragraph strikes me as something of an insult. Most all Americans are “on about” the same things that most all British folks are. Really, we’re not that different to a man. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/6 "2003-08-12T15:23:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*This expression is not common in America. I’ve lived in the U.S. all my life, and have never heard it once. > > \*\* Wow. I use it all the time and I’m not some old guy. I’m 24(25 this Sunday) and say it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/7 "2003-08-12T15:24:25Z")
I don’t know where it originates, but I _am_ an American who knows this saying, has heard it, and has actually used it. I don’t hear it frequently, but I’ve said it numerous times. (of course, I’m often saying “old phrases” that none of my peers has heard of, but that I heard at home) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_B.Goode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Johnny\_B.Goode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_B.Goode)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/8 "2003-08-12T15:57:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*This paragraph strikes me as something of an insult. Most all Americans are “on about” the same things that most all British folks are. Really, we’re not that different to a man. \*\* Don’t even get me started on the profoundly unintelligible British. Though, I have to say, they may have the ability to take a gentle jibe in jest. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/9 "2003-08-12T16:22:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny B. Goode \* > \*\*Though, I have to say, they may have the ability to take a gentle jibe in jest. \*\* On the Internet, intent is difficult to judge, especially with stereotypical comments. No hard feelings from my end. **Scout1222** , **Mahaloth** – maybe it’s a regional thing. The expression is not used anywhere I’ve ever lived (Louisiana and Mississippi), and I’ve never heard it in the media that I can recall. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/10 "2003-08-12T16:35:08Z")
I hear/use it lots here in Canada. Thing is, I swear I picked it up when I used to watch Letterman (in the NBC days). ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/11 "2003-08-12T17:04:27Z")
my mom used to say it alot when i was like five or something. it may be a canadian/nnew-englanger thing since that’s what my mom is. well, since she’s lived down here for maybe 20 years, she still sounds like a yankee in some things; but she’s also picked up some of a southern sound. it kinda just depends on who she’s around. ---
**Author:** ![gypsymoth3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@gypsymoth3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gypsymoth3)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/12 "2003-08-12T17:04:27Z")
my mom used to say it alot when i was like five or something. it may be a canadian/nnew-englanger thing since that’s what my mom is. well, since she’s lived down here for maybe 20 years, she still sounds like a yankee in some things; but she’s also picked up some of a southern sound. it kinda just depends on who she’s around. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.C](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dr.C](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.C)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/13 "2011-07-11T22:04:32Z")
I just came across this post and have to laugh. The Brit wants to know why AMERICANS use a term like “Man Alive”? Well, sir, it started when your own former queen…that would be Victoria in this case…didn’t like swearing. It then became fashionable in England in the late 1800’s to use expletives other than something like “Oh, my God!” Rather innocuous (and somewhat meaningless) phrases then came into vogue such as “For land’s sake” and “Man alive!” Of course, they were picked up a bit by your crazy cousin across the ocean and our parents used them quite a lot over here too. These things have a tendency to linger both here and there…hence your hearing of a sportscaster using the term who isn’t allowed to swear during his duties. Furthermore, you might wish to check out one of your own authors who wrote around this same time period. That would be G.K. Chesterton. He has a novella called _Manalive_. Yes, that is not a typo. It is how he chose to spell his title. It is an expletive in its own right! I liked it! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/14 "2011-07-11T22:11:16Z")
Yes, we had a jolly good chuckle back in 2003, when this thread was new. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-expression-man-alive/194572/15 "2011-07-12T01:56:11Z")
> [@Dr.C](#): > > I just came across this post and have to laugh. The Brit wants to know why AMERICANS use a term like “Man Alive”? Well, sir, it started when your own former queen…that would be Victoria in this case…didn’t like swearing. It then became fashionable in England in the late 1800’s to use expletives other than something like “Oh, my God!” Rather innocuous (and somewhat meaningless) phrases then came into vogue such as “For land’s sake” and “Man alive!” Of course, they were picked up a bit by your crazy cousin across the ocean and our parents used them quite a lot over here too. These things have a tendency to linger both here and there…hence your hearing of a sportscaster using the term who isn’t allowed to swear during his duties. > Furthermore, you might wish to check out one of your own authors who wrote around this same time period. That would be G.K. Chesterton. He has a novella called _Manalive_. Yes, that is not a typo. It is how he chose to spell his title. It is an expletive in its own right! I liked it! You’ve resurected a thread from 2003. I f you had addend any new information, we would have left this open. But, you didn’t. It’s all laid out there in the response(post #4). If you had botrhered to read the post, you’d know that the expression antedated good old Queen Victoria and the late 1800s. Thread is closed unless someone comes up with new information. **samclem** Moderator