marry come up

English

Alternative forms

• (minced forms) marry guep, marry gep, marry quep

Interjection

marry come up

1. (archaic) An expression of contempt.
   • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene v], page 63, column 2:

     O Gods Lady deare, / Are you ſo hot? marrie come vp I trow, / Is this the Poultis for my aking bones?

   • 1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, canto III, page 64:

     I thought th' hadst scorn'd to budge a step / For fear. (Quoth Eccho) Marry guep.

   • 1742, Henry Fielding, “What Passed between the Lady and Mrs. Slipslop, […]”, in The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams. […], volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book I, page 47:

     "Marry-come-up," cries Slipſlop, "People's Ears are ſometimes the niceſt Part about them."

   • 1676 December 11 (first performance), [William] Wycherley, The Plain-Dealer. A Comedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for James Magnes and Rich[ard] Bentley […], published 1677, →OCLC, Act III, page 42:

     Marry gep, if it had not been for me, thou hadſt been yet but a hearing Counſel at the Bar.

   • 1731 (date written), Simon Wagstaff [pseudonym; Jonathan Swift], “Dialogue I”, in A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, […], London: […] B[enjamin] Motte […], published 1738, →OCLC, page 39:

     Marry, come up, indeed; tie it yourſelf, you have as many Hands as I; your Man's Man will have a fine Office truly: Come, pray, ſtand out of my ſpitting Place.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V, page 180:

     Marry come up with ſuch gentlemen! though he hath lived here theſe many Years, I don't believe there is arrow servant in the house ever ſaw the Colour of his Money.

   • 1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 109:

     Marry quep of your advice, for an old Scotch tinsmith, as you are!

   • 1835 March, “The Autobiography, Times, Opinions, and Contemporaries of Sir Egerton Brydges, […]”, in The Gentleman's Magazine, London: William Pickering; John Bowyer Nichols and Son, →OCLC, page 233, column 1:

     Marry, quep! if you call this wasting time. Sir Egerton, we wonder what is employing it.

References

• Jonathon Green (2024) “marry come up excl.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang
• “marry come up, int.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.