While watching Midsomer Murders, and learning that the murder weapon was a bodkin, I became interested in the phrase “odd bodkin”. And while researching that, I came across an even more interesting term, minced oath. While not a very eloquent phrase, it’s an amusing one (at least to me). It’s a way of swearing, without saying something offensive. I learned a lot about minced oaths on this site. They are often religious in nature. For example, Jiminy Cricket instead of Jesus Christ and Gadzooks for “by God’s hooks” (the nails in Jesus’ cross). Minced oaths have been around for ages. We’ve seen them in drama and literature, as far back as the 1600’s. Charles Dickens used them. In fact, his name itself is a minced oath; a replacement for referring to the devil. We also see it in television. The term “frak” for well, you know, was born out of the show Battlestar Galactica, and then adopted by Veronica Mars (a grossly underappreciated teen detective series). In our house, my daughter coins her own minced oaths, including my favorite, Crap Muffins. And you? Do you have a favorite minced oath? They’re really quite fun.
I like crudballs–haven’t used since college days:) Not sure where I irst heard it. Synonym for crap.
That’s a good one! Bet you had even more colorful ones in college. 😉
Son of a nutcracker!
Good night Irene!
Fudge!
Do those count?
🙂
I love your Bon Mots… wait, is that one?
😉
Becky, those totally count! I love son of a nutcracker and will find occasion to shout it the next time I stub my toe.
Minced oath…hmm…interesting! Sometimes I will go as far as using a foreign language to
say a minced oath. For instance I might say “You are full of skata!” It always works for me
and, I’m grateful to the people of Greece!
In our house when something is particularlly annoying we say “Now isn’t that a precious baby!”
Aunt Mary – crack me up! I want to start saying that immediately.