golly bum!
A mild country "oh man" for surprise or frustration.
Also called gollybum.
Updated September 21, 2026
golly bum! pronunciation
/GAH-lee bum/
Meaning
Family-safe porch talk when something startles you or goes sideways. Same job as "well shoot" or "good grief," just with an old rural bounce. Kids can say it at the supper table. Grown folks use it when they lock the keys in the truck.
How folks use it
- “Golly bum! That snake about made me jump out of my boots.”
- “Golly bum, I left the gate open again.”
Origin and etymology
Built from golly, a long-standing mild stand-in for God, plus bum in the same family as dad bum / dad gum country minced oaths. Exact start date is unclear. It sits in Southern and Appalachian polite-exclamation territory beside golly and dadgum.
Frequently asked questions
Is golly bum swearing?
No. It is a soft stand-in so you can fuss without cussing.