# Most popular milder forms for certain swear words **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525 "2018-07-08T16:56:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/1 "2018-07-08T16:56:02Z")
Generally I would consider “darn” as the most common euphemism for “damn.” Though I suppose “drat” would be up there. Likewise “heck” for “hell.” What are some others? I guess I have heard “motherlover” used. I have nothing for “c\*\*t” or even “bitch.” What are some others, or are there none in some cases? Going down the Lenny Bruce nine dirty words: “ass” - many acceptable variants, “butt” being the most common? “balls” - gonads? “c_ **s** _\*\*” - no idea “c**t" - no idea "f**k” - screw? “m_ **f** _” - motherlover? “p**s" - probably pee "s**t” - probably poop “tits” - probably boobs ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/2 "2018-07-08T17:20:16Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#): > > “f\*\*k” - screw? Some euphemisms or substitute words try to preserve the _meaning_; others try to preserve the _sound_. For the latter, there’s “fudge,” “frick(in’),” “frig(gin’).” For the former, “screw” certainly works; but there’s always “[intercourse](https://coub.com/view/e36rc).” > [@](#): > > “m_ **f** _” “cotton-pickin’” may be a sound-preserving substitute for “m_ **f** _’.” Or it may be a racial epithet; [who knows?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=853034) > [@](#): > > “s\*\*t” - probably poop “shit,” “crap,” and “poop” all have pretty much the same meanings, both literally and as swear words, but they’re in decreasing order of naughtiness/adultness. > [@](#): > > “tits” - probably boobs boobs, breasts, jugs, melons, bosoms, ta-tas, bazongas, hooters, knockers, … ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/3 "2018-07-08T17:26:25Z")
Since “most popular” is a matter of opinion, let’s move this to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/4 "2018-07-08T17:50:39Z")
m_ **f** _ : whippersnapper! ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/5 "2018-07-08T18:04:02Z")
Every time someone is about to say “bitch” on TV you can watch them pause for a half second as they realize they can’t swear, and then come up with “witch” so I’d say it’s the #1 euphemism for that one. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/6 "2018-07-08T18:31:44Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Every time someone is about to say “bitch” on TV you can watch them pause for a half second as they realize they can’t swear, and then come up with “witch” so I’d say it’s the #1 euphemism for that one. Porky Pig would like a word with you: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EK4j88PvLyg/hqdefault.jpg "Porky the Pig says Son of a bitch!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK4j88PvLyg) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/7 "2018-07-08T19:01:43Z")
I used to work with a woman who, if she got frustrated, would say, “Oh, dirty words!” She picked up that habit when her kids were young. That would cover pretty much everything. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/8 "2018-07-08T19:14:27Z")
Spoilered because I hate asterisks and we’re all adults here, but I realize this thread could turn NSFW. [SPOILER]“Shut the front door!” for “shut the fuck up!” “Corksoaker” for cocksucker.[/SPOILER] ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/9 "2018-07-08T19:34:48Z")
Motherscratcher! ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/10 "2018-07-08T21:29:52Z")
[quote=“mbh, post:6, topic:817525”] Porky Pig would like a word with you: [/QUOTE] Good pick. At the same time the phrase “son of a b_tch" is totally different than the use for "b_tch”. After all, one begets the other. You’d never say “That woman is such a gun.” or “That gun screamed at me all morning”. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/11 "2018-07-08T21:34:51Z")
The rest of the world is amused at the American aversion to using ‘bitch’ as a descriptor. Here in the UK, it is an insult for sure, but there are worse ones. On the other hand, ‘motherfucker’ is almost never heard outside of the rap community. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/12 "2018-07-08T21:46:17Z")
In the 1985 [movie “Johnny Dangerously”, rival crime boss Roman Moroney](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVCgTFw2Qk) advanced the art considerably (“icehole”, “fargin’ bastages”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/13 "2018-07-09T00:48:20Z")
Redd Foxx had a short-lived sitcom in which he occasionally said the word ‘motherfather’. mmm ETA: I believe it was the Redd Foxx Show (1986) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/14 "2018-07-09T01:11:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > m_ **f** _ : whippersnapper! I thought it was “Mister Falcon” 😃 Maybe that’s only when it is preceded by “yippee ki-yay” ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/15 "2018-07-09T01:53:40Z")
The caveman Alley Oop was said to be a “mean motor scooter”. Also a “bad go getter” but I think that was just for the rhyme. ---
**Author:** ![CharmaChameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CharmaChameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CharmaChameleon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/16 "2018-07-09T03:17:35Z")
My ex-father-in-law used the term “scrub stock”. He never explained that term to me to any kind of satisfaction. I don’t care that much. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/17 "2018-07-09T04:53:13Z")
> [@CharmaChameleon](#): > > My ex-father-in-law used the term “scrub stock”. He never explained that term to me to any kind of satisfaction. I don’t care that much. FWIW, it merits an entry in the Urban Dictionary. It’s not a “sentence enhancer”, not officially. > **[Urban Dictionary: scrub stock](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scrub%20stock)** > > Someone who is second rate and unimportant. Similar meaning to the phrase Ham & Egger. It was originally used to describe inferior farm animals. It's often used to describe second string or lower players on a sports team. It's also used to... ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-milder-forms-for-certain-swear-words/817525/18 "2018-07-09T05:02:23Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I used to work with a woman who, if she got frustrated, would say, “Oh, dirty words!” She picked up that habit when her kids were young. > > That would cover pretty much everything. I’ve been known to say “asterisks!” when out with people I’d met online.