<Dl> <Dd> "Great--Scott!" he gasped in his stupefaction, using the name of the then commander - in - chief for an oath, as officers sometimes did in those days . </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> "Great--Scott!" he gasped in his stupefaction, using the name of the then commander - in - chief for an oath, as officers sometimes did in those days . </Dd> <P> The phrase has the ring of being somewhat "dated," suggestive of the nineteenth century or generally an old - fashioned minced oath . Twentieth - century publications frequently use it to suggest such a context, as, for example, in the Rathbone--Bruce Sherlock Holmes films (said by Dr. Watson), Silver Age comics (especially Superman), the television series Dennis the Menace (said by Mr. Wilson), The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (end of chapter six), and the Back to the Future films (Dr. Emmett Brown). It was also said in A Christmas Story as Ralphie is in line to see Santa Claus, and in the episode "When The Rat's Away, The Mice Will Play" from the Batman TV show, said by Adam West (Batman). Scrooge McDuck uses it in DuckTales Remastered . It is also used in "The Laughing Fish", an episode of Batman: The Animated Series, by a one - time character voiced by George Dzundza when The Joker enters his office . The Joker, voiced by Mark Hamill, quips, "Actually I'm Irish ." </P> <P> In Half - Life 2, Dr. Kleiner says it when he first sees Gordon Freeman in the game . In The Office episode "Valentine's Day", Michael Scott uses the phrase "Great Scott!" at the end of his home - made "The Faces of Scranton" video . "Great Scott Film Industries" is the name of his imaginary film company, and the logo includes a lightning bolt and a headshot of Steve Martin and Robin Williams . The phrase is said by Doc Spencer at the end of Danny the Champion of the World, by Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach and by Miss Trunchbull in Matilda . </P>

Where did the phrase great scott come from