Meaning
What does Heavens to Murgatroyd mean?
Heavens to Murgatroyd refers to a memorable quote from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Yogi Bear Show, where it is uttered by Snagglepuss on several occasions, as a catchphrase.
It is a phrase of exclamation, used for expressing surprise and bewilderment.
Origin
What's the origin of Heavens to Murgatroyd?
The expression refers to the colloquial phrase “Heavens to Betsy” which was popular in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
“Murgatroyd” is a noble family name from Yorkshire, first documented in 1371.
It appeared in the 1887 comic operetta Ruddigore, as the name of one of the characters.
“Heavens to Mugatroyd” first appeared in the same context in a newspaper cartoon, printed in the San Francisco Examiner in October 1942.
The line became popularized as the catchphrase of Snagglepuss from the Yogi Bear Show during the 1960’s.
Spread & Usage
How did Heavens to Murgatroyd spread?
“Heavens to Murgatroyd” didn’t become a widespread colloquialism anywhere in the world, although it is recognized by fans of Hanna-Barbera cartoons, as the catchphrase of Snagglepuss.
The first instance of the line appearing online can be linked to its Urban Dictionary entry, uploaded on March 6th, 2004.
It also appeared in a Snagglepuss scene uploaded to YouTube on January 11th, 2007, by BlackNo9.
External resources
- 7esl.com – Heavens to Murgatroyd
- Fandom.com – Hanna-Barbera Wiki