Are you looking for a way to exclaim surprise or disgust at someone’s actions? You could use ‘stone the flamin’ crows’ to voice your amazement at the situation.
This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression ‘stone the flamin’ crows’ is a colloquial term describing an exclamation of disgust, disbelief, or amazement at someone’s actions or words. It’s also a way of describing an alarming situation or an unexpected event that takes you by surprise.
The use of ‘flamin’ in the expression replaces illicit language, making the saying family friendly. Stone the flamin’ crows means you can’t believe the outcome of an event.
Example Usage
"Well, stone the flamin' crows. I'm not having that right now. I'm going to get up and do something about the neighbors making all that noise."
Last night, I saw comedian Isaac Butterfield perform his show at the Sydney Opera House. Stone the flamin' crows. I almost lost it when he started ripping on trans people."
"Oh my gosh. Stone the flamin' crows! Someone broke into our house while we were at the comedy show and stole all our stuff."
“We’ll, stone the flamin’ crows. That guy just clipped my mirror in traffic and turned down the other road to avoid me.”
Origin
The expression' stone the crows' is an Australian reference. This first use of the phrase appears in 'Here's Luck,' published by Lennie Lower in 1930, which reads as follows.
"I told Stanley that you had been thrown out and asked him to pull up, but he merely laughed and refused," he explained. "Stone the crows!" exclaimed Stanley indignantly."
The phrase became popular in the UK during the late 1950s and 1960s, thanks to the comedian Tony Hancock. The term 'Stone the flamin' crows is a modified version of the original saying and used by actor Alfred James Stewart in the Australian TV series "Home and Away."
Phrases Similar to Stone the Flamin’ Crows
- Well bugger me.
- What on earth is going on.
- That’s surprising.
Phrases Opposite to Stone the Flamin’ Crows
- That’s not surprising.
- How boring.
- That’s vanilla.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Stone the flamin’ crows.
- Stone the crows.
Ways People May Say Stone the Flamin’ Crows Incorrectly
The phrase has nothing to do with stoning crows. It’s a way of exclaiming surprise, disgust, or concern with another person’s actions or a situation. Using it to describe violent acts towards birds is incorrect.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Stone the Flamin’ Crows
You can use the phrase ‘stone the flamin’ crows’ when you want to exclaim disgust or disbelief in someone’s actions or words. It’s a way of displaying shock at someone else and an invitation to take action to remedy the problem. The phrase suits social use, but there is room to use it in professional situations.
Use it with friends to exclaim surprise when they give you a gift or do something outlandish in your presence. Use it at the office to describe the actions or words of co-workers. Stone the flamin’ crows is a common phrase in England and Australia, but it's lesser-known in the United States.