Dear Matthew Alice: Heavens to Betsy! This may not be the most interesting question you’ve ever had, but it may be one of the most difficult. Actually, I find it hard to believe you could dig up an answer to this one. Where did the saying in my first sentence come from? — Steve Dyer, San Diego

Oh, heck. I could answer this with one brain hemisphere tied behind my back.... Anyway, I can tell you what the word watchers say about “Betsy,” though sometimes I think those folks are not wired up the right way. This is case in point. Remember the old cowboy movies where some grizzled codger stands on his creaky porch and waves his rifle at the bad guys, saying if they come back and try to take over his land, he and Betsy will take care of them?

“Betsy” is a traditional name for a frontiersman’s rifle, so the gal in the expression is a gun. After that, the word guys haven’t much more to say, probably not wanting to appear any more foolish. This explanation comes from Charles Funk’s book Heavens to Betsy! in which he goes out on all kinds of linguistic limbs searching for origins that others can’t figure out. Take it for what it’s worth. Actually, you had a double-header here. Not the most interesting question combined with an answer that is also a bit of a snooze.