origin of words

[Ginger]

First of all I just want to say that I realise words or phrases that we use that aren't obviously really bad swear words is a personal thing and its up to you what is OK to say.

-But thought if anyone knew the real meaning or origin of a common word or phrase that some may use that may have a different meaning to what we thought - it might be helpful for others to know to make up their own minds before using it.

- Or just words that are socially accepted in one country that isn't in another - it might be interesting to see.

- Or even a discussion on what everyone thinks is acceptable 'bad word' if any to say

I used to use the word 'crap' years ago and I thought it was quite an innocent word then my husband said a couple of years ago - thats not a nice word to use and it actually means dog poo and not garbage like what I thought.

A lot of Americans say 'bugger' and think nothing of it as it is innocent here I presume but I would advise Americans not to say that and especially "b***** off" in the UK (just a little tip :D )in christian company. And as a UK person I won't say fanny either as it means something different in the UK.

Some friends of mine who are christians in Scotland jokingly say 'mare' or 'cow' to a female (and it is jokingly with them - usually to their spouse) and I realise for them it's OK whereas others even in a joking manner mean it to bring people down which is not OK.

I am glad I never swore as it must be a hard habit to break if you are used to swearing a lot then become a christian (just not saying crap to me was really hard!)

And I just used a phrase yesterday which I use a lot "not much cop" and it came into my head yesterday that it could mean a sexual conotation as in 'not much copulation' and not - not much of a cop (police officer) which I always thought. If it meant the sexual conotation then I don't want to use it and can't seem to find out the origin of it - anyone know?

 

[Paidion]

Paidon wrote,
Many expressions which are offensive to Christians have been altered slightly to make them acceptable. Personally, I avoid them all.

"God!" becomes "Golly!"
"Jesus!" becomes "Gee!"
"God damn" becomes "gol darn"
"What the hell?" becomes "What the heck?"
"Holy Christ!" becomes "Holy Christopher!"
"Bugger" becomes "booger"
"F---" becomes "frig"
"Jesus Christ!" becomes "Jiminy Cricket!"

WOW! I have never heard of anyone using words like Gee to mean Jesus, or Golly to mean God. Jiminy Cricket was a favorite cartoon character for me growing up, but again to think that people are using the name of the dancing top-hatted little cricket in place of Jesus Christ seems really far-fetched! Could some of these be exagerated, or even mis-information? What source or you using, or is this your personal feeling?

How about ...
The Bees-knees or the cats pajamas?
I guess I have been saying gosh, golly, gee, and even jiminy crickets, for like~ ever. I never really swore except to emulate my husband during our early years of marriage, but I also smoked because he did. Paidon, does it stumble you to read these expressions in the forum?

bonnie

 

[Caroline H]

A lot of Americans say 'bugger' and think nothing of it as it is innocent here I presume but I would advise Americans not to say that and especially "b***** off" in the UK (just a little tip :D )in christian company. And as a UK person I won't say fanny either as it means something different in the UK.

Ha ha...

I grew up in England, and when I hear those words and others that Americans flippantly use it makes me cringe a bit. My family has some funny stories about using some words or phrases that would be perfectly acceptable in the US, but have COMPLETELY different meanings in the UK, and vice versa

 

[Gabe]

Paidon wrote,
Many expressions which are offensive to Christians have been altered slightly to make them acceptable. Personally, I avoid them all.

"God!" becomes "Golly!"
"Jesus!" becomes "Gee!"
"God damn" becomes "gol darn"
"What the hell?" becomes "What the heck?"
"Holy Christ!" becomes "Holy Christopher!"
"Bugger" becomes "booger"
"F---" becomes "frig"
"Jesus Christ!" becomes "Jiminy Cricket!"

WOW! I have never heard of anyone using words like Gee to mean Jesus, or Golly to mean God. Jiminy Cricket was a favorite cartoon character for me growing up, but again to think that people are using the name of the dancing top-hatted little cricket in place of Jesus Christ seems really far-fetched! Could some of these be exagerated, or even mis-information? What source or you using, or is this your personal feeling?

I think Paidion may be right. I have heard people use the phrase "Oh Geez" which i am guessing is a variation of "Oh Jesus" or "Oh Gee".

I've heard the word "Jerk" be used in several American movies; am i wrong in thinking that Americans use this word in the same way as some British folks use the word "w*****r"?

 

[turnorburn]

Be careful there mate I know what "wxxxxr" means, I worked for a couple of blokes
that were from across the pond. As far as words are concerned your conscience will
whisper in your ear when the time comes, I think Jiminey Cricket used that phrase let
your conscience be your guild.

turnorburn

 

[Gabe]

What have i to be careful about? I never use that word, nor would i even write it, i'm simply asking wether the word "jerk" is used as an insult in a similar manner to the other OR has it a totaly different meaning? I dont see how that word is any more or any less wrong than any of the other marked-out words on this thread.

 

[turnorburn]

Sorry mate its just slang. :yes

 

[Ginger]

What have i to be careful about? I never use that word, nor would i even write it, i'm simply asking wether the word "jerk" is used as an insult in a similar manner to the other OR has it a totaly different meaning? I dont see how that word is any more or any less wrong than any of the other marked-out words on this thread.

Though I haven't used 'jerk' (I don't think!) it never ocurred to me it had the same meaning as w***** (very horrible british word) - of course thinking about it now makes perfect sense! :o

 

[Ginger]

Paidon wrote,
Many expressions which are offensive to Christians have been altered slightly to make them acceptable. Personally, I avoid them all.

"God!" becomes "Golly!"
"Jesus!" becomes "Gee!"
"God damn" becomes "gol darn"
"What the hell?" becomes "What the heck?"
"Holy Christ!" becomes "Holy Christopher!"
"Bugger" becomes "booger"
"F---" becomes "frig"
"Jesus Christ!" becomes "Jiminy Cricket!"

I realise some of these may have been slighltly altered so christians can use them (never heard that golly and gee was supposed to be a derivitive of saying god though!!)

But where do we do draw the line cause if we don't say some of those - what do we say, it may end up we can't say anything?
Or is that right should there be no other derivitive when we are surprised, stub our toe etc?

Or is there middle ground which is where I am at the moment, some things I'll say like "for goodness sake"?

 

[Ginger]

A lot of Americans say 'bugger' and think nothing of it as it is innocent here I presume but I would advise Americans not to say that and especially "b***** off" in the UK (just a little tip :D )in christian company. And as a UK person I won't say fanny either as it means something different in the UK.

Ha ha...

I grew up in England, and when I hear those words and others that Americans flippantly use it makes me cringe a bit. My family has some funny stories about using some words or phrases that would be perfectly acceptable in the US, but have COMPLETELY different meanings in the UK, and vice versa

I know! :D

I really have to stop laughing with embarrasment now (at first I was shocked in silence) and would never say anything as the people are innocent and don't want to make them feel bad ...it surprises me again how people that speak the same language, meanings can change so much in a short amount of time, wonder how it happened and who changed it?

 

[Free]

But where do we do draw the line cause if we don't say some of those - what do we say, it may end up we can't say anything?

Think Ned Flanders.

Actually, that is a very good point. If we use some of the logic that was used above, we could say nothing in response without it being misconstrued to mean something else.

 

[Paidion]

But where do we do draw the line cause if we don't say some of those - what do we say, it may end up we can't say anything?
Or is that right should there be no other derivitive when we are surprised, stub our toe etc?

My mother and siblings were very strict about "bad" words. So when I was 10 or 11, I coined my own cuss word. The word was "blimpy". If something went wrong, I would simply exclaim "Oh blimpy!" It seemed quite innocuous to me.

 

[Carol Lowery]

Well this is totally confusing to me with the golly, gee, geewiz, golly gee, gosh, jerk, heck, bugger, booger. Has anyone taken the time to look them up in the dictionary? Well I have, and that's why it's confusing to me why they're considered cuss/curse words. Their definitions don't mean anything bad or even used to mean bad words with the exception of "darn", and dang doesn't even exist in the dictionary. Though when I've used the word dang, my heart/mind has the meaning of me being dangled in an area of confusion. Personally I believe at the moment and situation, and the intent of your heart/mind when saying the words means whether it's considered vulgar. And the "w" word which I don't know what word is being referred to, so I couldn't look it up in the dictionary. As far as frig, I use all the time that's an abbreviation for frigidaire or refrigerator.

And to be truthfully honest with you the "F" word is not a cuss word, it's an abbreviation for Fornicating Under Consent of King, so the King could keep tabs on the population he ruled over.

 

[Ginger]

Personally I believe at the moment and situation, and the intent of your heart/mind when saying the words means whether it's considered vulgar.

Really good thought Carol, thanks I believe you are right. Like you I was surprised with golly, gee etc and just getting plain confused in my mind in what is right or not right to say. I think that point you make is a good one, if when saying something ie jerk and I didn't mean it to or know about the vulgar aspect of it then that is done in innocence.

I was going to tell you what the 'w' word is but then thought well if you know one less horrible word then you are better off. I wish I had never heard of any 'bad' words or knew any of them

Personally I also try and know what is 'bad words' so as to avoid them (the logic I know in that frustrates me!!) as I don't want any "unwholesome" words to come from me as I am a witness for Christ not just in my life but what I say.

 

[VaultZero4Me]

And to be truthfully honest with you the "F" word is not a cuss word, it's an abbreviation for Fornicating Under Consent of King, so the King could keep tabs on the population he ruled over.

Not being picky, but thought you would want to know. That is an urban legend starting around in the 60's.

The origin is unknown, though there are papers dating way back in several different euro countries using variations of the word to mean "to have sex" or "to strike".

 

[Carol Lowery]

Thanks Vault, I didn't know I could google it, and you're absolutely right! Thanks for teaching me something new and bringing me into the truth!

So everyone........my apologies, I was wrong without knowing. It wasn't my intentions to bring you a false statement, but thank you Vault again for revealing the truth of the word, and re-educating from this folklore/urban legend, and being gracious enough to not allow me to remain ignorant on this subject.

 

[VaultZero4Me]

Thanks Vault, I didn't know I could google it, and you're absolutely right! Thanks for teaching me something new and bringing me into the truth!

So everyone........my apologies, I was wrong without knowing. It wasn't my intentions to bring you a false statement, but thank you Vault again for revealing the truth of the word, and re-educating from this folklore/urban legend, and being gracious enough to not allow me to remain ignorant on this subject.

I googled it too lol