The use of blow me: 'Why I even bother to write...'

[Tom]

[Mister Micawber]

.
HERE'S one reference, Tom.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

I used the expression 'blow me' short for 'blow me down' or 'I'll be blowed' to indicate surprise as in: 'Well, would you believe it?'. It may well come from some sailing expression when the wind was so strong on a sailing ship that it could literally 'blow you down' You would use it in this sort of context: Imagine that you are talking about a friend you haven't seen for ages to some people sitting in a pub or wherever and then suddenly this friend walks through the door. Your expression of great surprise could be: Well, blow me! Fancy seeing you! We were just talking about you.'

A
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple