An old English expression, even perhaps dating back to anglo-saxon times. Used commonly in situations where an inconvience has occurred to one's self or others. Also an be used as a expletive when harm has fallen upon you. Bloody can be inserted into the phrase to further emphasise the inconvience/annoyance/pain.
"stone the crows, I've just run over the pope"
"stone the bloody crows, the pope's dead"
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