The Oxford English Dictionary defines "shiver my timbers" as "a mock oath attributed in comic fiction to sailors." (source) But other sources say it is more literal - that a shiver back in the day indicated something breaking into pieces. So when a cannonball would hit it would shiver the timbers. (source)
It seems today it's used mostly to talk like a pirate, ha! But it is also used to express surprise - both good and bad.
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