son of a gun

noun phrase

ˈsən-ə-və-ˌgən How to pronounce son of a gun (audio)
 as an interjection  ˌsən-ə-və-ˈgən
plural sons of guns
usually used as a mild or euphemistic alternative to son of a bitch
sometimes used interjectionally to express surprise or disappointment

Examples of son of a gun in a Sentence

That son of a gun never called me back. I had to bring the car to the shop. The son of a gun broke down again.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Like Batty, Chambliss is a tough son of a gun who will vie for a spot with his intriguing special teams skill set. Alec Lewis, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Say ‘bye’ to that old, bulky toolkit and ‘hello’ to this sleek son of a gun. Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of son of a gun was in 1708

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Cite this Entry

“Son of a gun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/son%20of%20a%20gun. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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