Trying to make sense of the term - Good Grief

[Bretrick]

Is there such a thing?
Have you ever experienced Good Grief?

 

[KSav]

Looks like this phrase was originally meant to express "Good God!"

Yes, “good grief” was originally a mild oath. It’s “a euphemism for ‘good God,’ ” according to The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms (2d ed.), by Christine Ammer.

Ammer describes it as an “exclamation expressing surprise, alarm, dismay, or some other, usually negative, emotion. For example, Good Grief! You’re not going to start all over again, or Good Grief! He’s dropped the cake.” (The Grammarphobia Blog: Good grief!)

 

[horseless carriage]

Looks like this phrase was originally meant to express "Good God!"

Yes, “good grief” was originally a mild oath. It’s “a euphemism for ‘good God,’ ” according to The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms (2d ed.), by Christine Ammer.

Ammer describes it as an “exclamation expressing surprise, alarm, dismay, or some other, usually negative, emotion. For example, Good Grief! You’re not going to start all over again, or Good Grief! He’s dropped the cake.” (The Grammarphobia Blog: Good grief!)

Quite so. The original 1899 version of Sam Walter Foss's poem An Art Critic contains the exclamation "Good Lord!". But when the verse was anthologised the oath, perhaps seen as taking the name of The Lord in vain, was replaced with "Good grief."
Good grief is a misnomer but it is useful as a replacement for a profanity. Then, once it gets into the mainstream it becomes everyday use:

 

[GoodEnuff]

Same thing as "Oh My Gosh".

 

[JustDave]

I think we can now agree that good grief is not an emotion. It can't be experienced. However, I think it's a wonderful expression. I use it in writing on forums when someone posts crap.

 

[JBR]

I'm impressed with the pondering & scholarship above. Appreciated.

Seems to me "good grief!" possibly belongs in the SF thread
Odd Expressions you've heard