Buzz
Swearing isn't what it once was. Back in 1944, H.L. Mencken, a renowned commentator on American speech, lamented that cursing had been dwindling since the Civil War, pointing out that while obscenity persisted, it revolved around just a handful of four-letter words and lacked the depth of true profanity.
In the past, societal taboos against what we now view as relatively tame expressions like 'damn!' 'hell!' and 'Jesus Christ!' prompted people to invent creative alternatives. These substitutes, known as 'minced oaths,' allowed for emotional expression while maintaining decorum. Words like gosh, gee, golly, dagnamit, darn, drat, gadzooks, zounds, heck, and cripes have endured, charming us with their quaint, old-fashioned appeal. Yet, there are lesser-known examples that might spice up your language when you crave something more colorful than mundane obscenities.
1. Bejabbers!
A replacement for 'by Jesus!' akin to 'bejesus!' but with a sharper tone. Bejabbers, an Irish expression, shares the spirit of 'faith and begorrah!' and is particularly effective for moments like stubbing your toe.
2. Consarn!
A stand-in for 'damn.' Originating from an 1854 Dictionary of Northamptonshire, it was used in phrases like 'Consarn you! If you don't watch yourself, I'll teach you a lesson!' Pronounce it slowly, emphasizing both syllables, and it feels like releasing built-up tension.
3. Dad-Sizzle!
An alternative to 'goddamn.' Saying 'Well, dad-sizzle it!' conveyed seriousness. The 'dad' family of expressions was vast, including dadgum, dad-blast, dad-seize, dad-rat, dad-swamp, and numerous others.
4. Thunderation!
A replacement for 'damnation,' akin to 'tarnation' and 'botheration.' Instead of the overused 'WTF,' opt for 'What in thunderation?' to add some flair.
5. Great Horn Spoon!
An oath you can swear by, much like 'by God!' Its origins likely stem from nautical slang, possibly referencing the Big Dipper. However, its quirky randomness makes it oddly satisfying to exclaim, even without knowing its history.
6. 'Snails!
A condensed version of 'by God's nails!' This abbreviation trend also gave rise to expressions like 'zounds!' (God's wounds), 'Gadzooks!' (God's hooks), 'strewth!' (God's truth), and 'ods bodikins!' (God's little body).
7. Gosh-all-Potomac!
This phrase belongs to the 'gosh all' family, which includes goshamighty, gosh-all-hemlock, gosh all fish-hooks, and more. 'Gosh all Potomac' is the earliest recorded in the Dictionary of American English on Historical Principles, and it's high time we revived it.
8. G. Rover Cripes!
A minced oath echoing 'Jesus Christ!' it employs familiar patterns: the 'gee' sound (Gee! Jeepers! Jeez!), the middle name (Jesus H. Particular Christ!), and the 'cr' sound (Crikey! Criminy! Cracky! Christmas!).
9. By St. Boogar and every saint at purgatory's backdoor!
St. Boogar doesn't exist—this is a quote from Laurence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy, released in 1759.
10. By the double-barrelled jumping jiminetty!
It's unfortunate that elaborate, lengthy 'by the' oaths like this one have gone out of style. You could pack enough absurdity into them to truly frighten your kids into tidying up.
