# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/41 "2021-01-16T19:25:15Z")
Fiddle-dee-dee! (Around bees.) ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/42 "2021-01-16T21:18:54Z")
Embarrassing to admit but I have used “barnacles” as curse like SpongeBob SquarePants. ---
**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 17, 2021, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/43 "2021-01-17T03:28:27Z")
Larry Storch in _ **The Great Race** _? 🤨 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/44 "2021-01-17T04:10:25Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I believe he is also responsible for one of my favorites, “Mother of Pearl.” And I believe it’s “Godfrey Daniel” i.e. singular. Another one I use often. And you’re right, it’s “Godfrey Daniel.” I forgot to correct it as I me-too’d with it upthread. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/45 "2021-01-17T04:12:02Z")
I’ve never used it, but does anyone else remember “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/46 "2021-01-17T04:46:01Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNwDnV0jbIY) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/47 "2021-01-17T06:53:05Z")
Another Stephen King reference–from “The Kid” in the expanded version of The Stand. **Happy Crappy** I use it all the time. “What is this happy crappy”; “Don’t give me that happy crappy,” etc. ---
**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 17, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/48 "2021-01-17T13:33:07Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’ve never used it, but does anyone else remember “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” Yeah, said by either J. Jonah Jameson or Clark Kent’s boss at the Daily Planet. I think the latter? ---
**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 17, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/49 "2021-01-17T13:33:53Z")
The latter. Perry White. ETA: background info > **[When Did Perry White First Say 'Great Caesar's Ghost!' in the Comics?](https://www.cbr.com/superman-perry-white-great-caesars-ghost/)** > > In their latest spotlight on notable comic firsts, CSBG reveals when we first saw Perry White exclaim, 'Great Caesar's Ghost!' in the comics. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/50 "2021-01-17T16:43:06Z")
‘Yarbles and Bolshy Great Yarblockos to thee and thine’… Clockwork orange. Also 'take a flying fuck at a rolling donut"… Kurt Vonnegut. ---
**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 17, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/51 "2021-01-17T16:45:48Z")
I remember the episode of _ **The Adventures of Superman** _ where Perry’s use of the phrase “conjured up” Julius himself. I haven’t seen it since I was in first grade, but I imagine it was on roughly the same level as the “levitation is easy” episode. 🥺 ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/52 "2021-01-18T17:11:54Z")
“Jesus Titty-fucking Christ” - Spottswoode, _Team America, World Police_ ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/53 "2021-01-18T20:30:53Z")
Among the very many excellent colorful phrases uttered by Sherman T. Potter, M.D., U.S. Army: **Bull cookies!** ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/54 "2021-01-18T22:19:05Z")
Good Lord ‘n butter. Opus from Bloom County. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/55 "2021-01-19T05:22:51Z")
“Christ eating a pickle!” …from the SDMB. ---
**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 19, 2021, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/56 "2021-01-19T13:38:25Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’ve never used it, but does anyone else remember “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” I say that one! I associate it with Mr. Wilson on _Dennis the Menace_, but I assume it goes back much further than that ---
**Author:** ![Happytree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happytree/32/3555_2.png) [@Happytree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happytree)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/57 "2021-01-19T15:52:37Z")
“Stupid sexy Flanders”- Homer Simpson ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/58 "2021-01-19T16:03:57Z")
I consume a lot of British media, so I’ve noticed myself unconsciously adopting British usages. Like saying “_I’ve_ noticed” rather than “_I_ noticed”, just then. Also realized that “bugger” is a bloody useful word. So is “bloody”. ---
**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 19, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/59 "2021-01-19T16:07:27Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Also realized that “bugger” is a bloody useful word. So is “bloody”. I use many of those at times too, but I get it from my Scottish Grandma, like “cheeky bugger!”. And "bloody hell!’ is always fun to say in a bad working-class Brit accent. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/60 "2021-01-19T17:22:00Z")
> [@solost](#): > > And "bloody hell!’ is always fun to say in a bad working-class Brit accent. Yesterday, I was watching the first two Harry Potter movies – Ron Weasley says that a _lot_. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524.md?page=4)