# Curses or oaths you've adopted from literature or movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524 "2021-01-14T15:28:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/21 "2021-01-15T01:19:34Z")
When I get something to work, I’ll often say “thar we goo”, Groundkeeper Willie’s way of saying “there we go”. I have no idea of which episode it’s from. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/22 "2021-01-15T01:27:13Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Mother Pus Bucket! (Ghostbusters) This is the one I was going to share. I’m glad someone else is keeping the classics alive. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/23 "2021-01-15T01:36:22Z")
Jumping butterballs! From the Marx Brothers version if _Room Service._ ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/24 "2021-01-15T03:12:26Z")
Then there is the classic, “Zoiks!” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/25 "2021-01-15T09:20:11Z")
I wouldn’t say I’ve adopted it in the sense of using it frequently, but I have occasionally muttered “goats and monkeys,” and gotten funny looks from people. Then I have to explain it’s from Shakespeare, and they nod, and then they give me another, different, funny look. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/26 "2021-01-15T22:26:48Z")
“What the crap!” from The Crow. “What the deuce!” from Family Guy. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/27 "2021-01-15T22:30:48Z")
Me three. It’s a go-to oath when I’m around students or polite society. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/28 "2021-01-16T00:34:09Z")
“By Grabthar’s Hammer…what a savings”. The original is less likely to be used in regular conversation. Besides, I like Rickman’s delivery and have been perfecting it over the years. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/29 "2021-01-16T01:29:44Z")
Thank the fuck Christ. From Bad Santa. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/30 "2021-01-16T02:00:08Z")
Shazbot. Heavens to murgatroid. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/31 "2021-01-16T02:31:34Z")
From Antic Hay by Aldous Huxley: ““Hell and death!” said Gumbril Senior in an outburst of Elizabethan fury.” I’ve always liked “Hell and Death!” ever since I read it in university English and I do often think it and occasionally use it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/32 "2021-01-16T04:51:30Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > “Godfrey Daniels” from W. C. Fields movies. > > BTW, I’ve been watching “The History of Swear Words” on Netflix. Very informative, and relevant to this thread I think. I believe he is also responsible for one of my favorites, “Mother of Pearl.” And I believe it’s “Godfrey Daniel” i.e. singular. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/33 "2021-01-16T04:57:48Z")
I actiully was saying “Judas Priest!” and “Mother PusBucket” before i saw them in entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/34 "2021-01-16T06:31:29Z")
Razzlefrazzlesnazzle from some cartoon dog cursing. “Swell” from Dirty Harry and the 1978 Superman. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/35 "2021-01-16T07:37:09Z")
Pooh Bum I don’t remember where I got that from, but it would have been TV or literature. And I was amused by the idea of using ‘naughty words’ instead of naughty words, and I realized that they have the right explosive quality. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/36 "2021-01-16T08:15:03Z")
Both from _The Simpsons_: “What in the name of St. Episiocritus??” “BY LUCIFER’S BEARD!” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/37 "2021-01-16T14:47:19Z")
Not a movie but a tv show: “Sweet, fancy Moses!” I don’t know if Seinfeld is the first place it’s ever been used but that’s where I heard it and I still find it delightful. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/38 "2021-01-16T14:54:13Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Not a movie but a tv show: “Sweet, fancy Moses!” Reminds me of the SNL skit with Ray Romano: “Sweet sassy molassey!” No, I have never said it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/39 "2021-01-16T16:49:42Z")
**Fawlty Towers** counts, right? Because I use this a lot around my students. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZOoyxjqWav0/hqdefault.jpg "Fawlty Towers Spiffing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOoyxjqWav0) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/40 "2021-01-16T16:50:11Z")
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