bejesus

alternative bejaysus · alternative bejeebus · alternative bejeesus · alternative bejeezus

1. IrelandcolloquialUsed to express surprise, annoyance, dismay, or anger.

   He paused, puffed on his cigarette, and struggled with a cough. Bejesus, excuse the language, but the fags'll get me in the end.

   1996, Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes, Scribner

   1 more example

   The young stinker and smeller dug in his pocket, pulled something out, and, bejesus, the young stinker and smeller was giving him something.

   1949, James T. Farrell, The Road Between, Vanguard Press, page 25

alternative bejaysus · alternative bejeebus · alternative bejeesus · alternative bejeezus

1. colloquialeuphemisticuncountableUsed for emphasis, similar to crap, shit or wits.

   The bear scared the bejesus out of us.

   5 more examples

   He said you confused the bejesus out of him.

   This old lady just completely slapped the bejesus out of him.

   That screaming, flaming skull in the closet totally scared the bejesus out of me!

   But they give me clothes for my body, and food for my belly, and tonight, I'm so happy, I could beat the living bejesus outa this goddam drum.

   1949, Richard Harrity, Hope is the Thing with Feathers, Dramatists Play Service, page 18

   Nixon: You see what I mean? We can’t take it. Kissinger: I agree. That’s why we’ve got to blast— Nixon: That’s right. Kissinger: —the living bejeezus out of North Vietnam. We will gain nothing for restraint—. Nixon: That’s right

   1972, Henry Kissinger, Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Office of the Historian