Goodness gracious is an exclamation of excitement, surprise or frustration. It is a Southern term used primarily as a substitute for cursing, and as such it is a minced oath. Sweet little old ladies use this term a lot.
1. Goodness gracious, Tommy, clean up that room!
2. Goodness gracious, if you don't just look beautiful today, honey!
3. Goodness gracious, I have gas today something fierce.
This term was coined by Professor Woodie Flowers for the FIRST robotics competition. The definition has never been precisely outlined, but it's connotation is widely understood and may be summarized as this: "Competition for the sake not of destroying one another, but for the sake of bettering and improving both competitors as a result of the competition."