This exclamation is perhaps American, though it occurs in J. B. Buckstone’s ‘Presumptive Evidence,’ ab. 1829, Act I. sc. ii.
1840. Man alive! what do you put yourself in such a plaguy passion for?—Mrs. Kirkland, ‘A New Home,’ p. 168.
1845. Man alive, I never heard of sich a oudacious perceedin’ in my life. This town’s got a monstrous bad name for meanery and shecoonery of all sorts, but I never know’d they ’low’d pirates here afore.—W. T. Thompson, ‘Chronicles of Pineville,’ p. 47 (Phila.).
1845. “Ouch! whew! man alive! what’s that?” shouted the speaker, and he lifted his feet from under him so suddenly, that he came near pitching on the floor.—Id., p. 49.
1909. Man alive! [the wild geese] know how far they have to fly to get home.—N.Y. Evening Post, April 8.
