did

[tkacka15]

"My goodness, what a finish that was. City really needed those three points and boy did they leave it late." [From the minute-by minute sport report in The Guardian.]


What is the reason for using the inversion did they leave it late in the above context? Is it that the interjection "boy" fronted in the clause boy did they leave it late let the author use such an inversion?

Thank you.

 

[probus]

Yes, with the emphatic interjection at the beginning one usually uses the inversion. For example:

Wow was she hot.
Man was I tired.
Damn could he play.