# 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:** 4
**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 19, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/61 "2021-01-19T17:42:14Z")
> [@solost](#): > > And "bloody hell!’ is always fun to say in a bad working-class Brit accent. I always try to mimic James Marsters’ accent from _BtVS_. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/62 "2021-01-19T18:55:44Z")
Ahhh the devil farts in my face one more time Blackadder ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/63 "2021-01-19T22:56:05Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Embarrassing to admit but I have used “barnacles” as curse like SpongeBob SquarePants. Speaking of barnacles, the “blistering” variety were often invoked by Captain Haddock of Tintin fame. I believe he used quite a variety of other minced oaths too. If I could only remember exactly what they were I would start using them myself… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/64 "2021-01-20T01:27:47Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > > > Mother Pus Bucket! (Ghostbusters) > > This is the one I was going to share. I’m glad someone else is keeping the classics alive. My favorite. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/65 "2021-01-20T16:15:11Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > 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. Is there something particularly British about that? If I say “I noticed”, I’m referring to one particular instance. “I have noticed” implies “on occasion”. Perhaps “I notice” (present tense) is more American. I don’t know. ---
**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 20, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/66 "2021-01-20T16:25:30Z")
> [@AppallingGael](#): > > > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > > > 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. > > Is there something particularly British about that? If I say “I noticed”, I’m referring to one particular instance. “I have noticed” implies “on occasion”. > > Perhaps “I notice” (present tense) is more American. I don’t know Hmm. That might not be a Briticism, perhaps simply a more formal usage. But “I’ve noticed” simply _feels_ British to me, intuitively. Which is not to say my intuition is correct, of course. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/67 "2021-01-20T17:02:51Z")
In the video game Everquest, there is a god named: Brell Serilis: The Duke of Below, Duke of Underfoot I don’t play anymore but I still use “What the Brell” as an exclamation or question ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/68 "2021-01-20T17:11:00Z")
When I read or hear total bullshit: “That’s the biggest load of crap since Paul Bunyan’s ox took his last dump!” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/69 "2021-01-20T18:33:10Z")
Not just blistering. Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles, when he was excited. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/70 "2021-01-20T19:28:11Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’ve never used it, but does anyone else remember “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” “Great Caesar’s Ghost”, Perry White’s exclamation in the TV show _Superman_ from the 1950s (and, I think, from there retrofitted into the comic books) actually has a long history. Mark Twain has his master, Horace Bixby, using it in _Life on the Mississippi_. I don’t know if Bixby really did use it, or Twain was using it as euphemism. He puts it in the mouths of characters in his fiction, too. It seems pretty clear to me that, like “Judas Priest” and “Cheese and Rice” and even “Jiminy Crickets”, the mild oath is used because of its assonance to “Jesus Christ!” (“Jiminy Crickets” – note the initials – actually has a slightly more convoluted history, I think.) ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/71 "2021-01-20T21:51:44Z")
I like “What a pisser!” from Airplane! My English accent doesn’t do it justice, but the memory of its delivery always tickles me. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/72 "2021-01-21T00:32:56Z")
I grew up using _bloody_ as both an adjective and an expletive, and _bloody hell_ when I was really annoyed, but we were stationed in the UK when I was 4-8 years old, so that’s understandable. I picked up _buggerit_ from Pterry and _Bugger that for a game of soldiers_ from Tom Holt, both British authors whose books I’ve enjoyed. I’m not sure where I picked up _ye gods and little fishes_, but I’m pretty certain is was from something I read. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/73 "2021-01-21T03:18:09Z")
I say “Oedipus Rex!”, from the classic play, when young’uns are around, or refer to something as “oedipal”. I used to use “Tarim!” from the Cerebus comic. I use “Golly” from the “I speak jive” sub-titles in the movie “Airplane!” ---
**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 21, 2021, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/74 "2021-01-21T03:20:08Z")
Sometimes I like to say “shut the… _fuck up_!”, like Frank Booth said to Dorothy Valance in the hallway. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/75 "2021-01-21T03:40:43Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > “Christ eating a pickle!” > > …from the SDMB. I really like this one and feel all SDMB members/guests should use this frequently until it’s well established. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/76 "2021-01-21T12:24:40Z")
An episode of Monk was about his favorite show as a child. It’s basically the Brady Bunch. A catch phrase on that show is a kid saying “Shucky Darn”. That is used all the time here. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/77 "2021-01-21T14:28:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Razzlefrazzlesnazzle from some cartoon dog cursing. Joe Pesci says something similar in _Home Alone_. I tend to use it whenever I stub my toe, bump my head, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/78 "2021-01-21T14:50:00Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I’m not sure where I picked up _ye gods and little fishes_ , but I’m pretty certain is was from something I read. Ah, that reminds me: “Egads!” and “Great Honk!” from The Music Man. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/79 "2021-01-21T15:26:24Z")
I like “what in the name of pluperfect Hell…”, which I first saw in one of the Stan and Jan Berenstein paperbacks\* - (not a Berenstein Bears book, obviously. Although would have been interesting.) ---
**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 21, 2021, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524/80 "2021-01-21T16:04:36Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > (not a Berenstein Bears book, obviously. Although would have been interesting.) That’s Beren_ **stain** _ Bears, unless you’re from a parallel universe. In which case, welcome! Guess what-- Mandela survived prison in this reality, and eventually became the President of South Africa! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curses-or-oaths-youve-adopted-from-literature-or-movies/930524.md?page=5)