# Phrases you use instead of curse words **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 13, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341 "2002-09-13T20:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![zepchick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/858c86/32.png) [@zepchick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zepchick)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/41 "2002-09-15T05:30:18Z")
When asked why I did something, I’ll often say “For sheeps and whistles” instead of “Shits and giggles”…I’ve been known to say “Oh, foghat” and “Farfignugen!” if I’m in school and there’s an administrator passing by. Instead of saying “Sh\*t!” or…the other one that starts with an ‘f’…"I’ll say ‘Christ on a crouton!’ which I picked up from my Irish-American grandmother, along with the infamous “Jesus Christ, Mary, and Joseph!”. I also say “Balzac!” instead of “Damn!” if i’m around little kids. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/42 "2002-09-15T16:31:38Z")
Wow! I’m so impressed that some of you actually use phrases like “Great Ceasar’s Ghost!” and “Jumping Jehosaphat!” I definitely need to expand my repetoire of non-cursing curses. For those of you who’ve spent time in non-English speaking countries, are there not-quite-profanities that get used often? Does Japanese have the equivalent of “Rats!” or “Darn!,” for example? ---
**Author:** ![SinisterDan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba8739/32.png) [@SinisterDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SinisterDan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/43 "2002-09-15T17:37:07Z")
My personal fallback is “Great Shades of Elvis!” Works pretty well and severely confuses the listener. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/44 "2002-09-15T20:27:46Z")
**Crelm!** ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/45 "2002-09-15T20:53:57Z")
Well, “By Lucifer’s Beard!” and “Pie Jesu!” work for me, occasionally. Which is kind of odd, really. Seeing as how I’m an athiest. “Ra” or “Thor damn it!” can do in a pinch, though. And “Smeg” and “Smeg off!” work wonders. And, as an American, I can use “Bugger!” without fear of reproach, or even comprehension. Ranchoth ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/46 "2002-09-15T20:58:50Z")
Gotterdamerung! ---
**Author:** ![bloomingpouf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@bloomingpouf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bloomingpouf)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/47 "2002-09-15T21:27:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sundog66 \* > \*\*Also, I’ve always wanted to call someone a foppish prickmedainty. \*\* No Problem - Just make an appointment - preferably after Luncheon and before Tiffin! Failing that, pop round after elevenses!😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/48 "2002-09-15T23:44:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TVGuy \* > \*\*I sometimes use “futhermucker,” but it becomes too easy to slip with that one and it’s too easy to figure out and to hear incorrectly. \*\* This is close to the word I use. “Fudruckers” It’s the name of a burger joint my parents used to take me to when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/49 "2002-09-15T23:59:23Z")
FRIGATE!! ---
**Author:** ![Minor\_Irritant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Minor\_Irritant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minor_Irritant)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/50 "2002-09-16T01:08:22Z")
“Fershlugginer” usually works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Joools](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@Joools](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joools)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/51 "2002-09-16T03:18:37Z")
Dad blammit! ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/52 "2002-09-16T08:29:26Z")
hm… i just usually swear, most people i know are not offended by the casual misuse of the name of the lord, or by the occasional expletive… however i find the following useful from time to time… oh ffffff…ar away! (or ffff…ar out, ffff…ried chicken etc etc) Bugger it/me/him/them… (this is not considered rude in this country… it’s even in an ad on tv) Well knock me dead and call me Charlie Kiss my Thistle (got that from my mother, she’s a scot who disapproves of the word “ass”) I also curse in swedish, german (all those brittle consonants, it’s great!), and occasionally in russian. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/53 "2002-09-20T14:25:58Z")
Mr. Snicks often tells of a former secondary school teacher, who after touching the very hot burned-out bulb of an overhead projecter to change it, yelled “Bad Words! Really bad words!” It’s one of his favorite replacements. He also likes **Poopy** or **Poop**. Not elegant, but he says that one cannot say it and not smile, so it goes a little bit towards rectifying bad situations. Snicks ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/54 "2002-09-20T14:38:58Z")
**Snickers** : That reminds me of the first episode of _The Young Ones_ (“Demolition”). Neil picks up a large pot of lentil casserole from the stove. > [@](#): > > **NEIL** : Oh wow! This is really amazingly hot! I’d better get it to the table quickly! > > [NEIL quickly walks with the pot to the table, which is covered in junk.] > > **NEIL** : Oh, no room at all, eh? Heavy! I’ll never get it back to the cooker in time now–I’m just gonna have to– > > [NEIL dumps the contents of the pot on the floor and starts blowing on his fingers. He then observes the mess on the floor.] > > **NEIL** : Oh no. Bad karma. Again! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/55 "2002-09-21T01:02:42Z")
I like Shazbot! You can use it in place of pretty much anything. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/56 "2002-09-21T06:49:12Z")
Pantload. ---
**Author:** ![Leonora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@Leonora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonora)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/57 "2002-09-21T07:04:10Z")
I tend to use “crud,” “s-o-l” meaning “sorry out of luck” for my kids (that one required a think fast one day). Dang, freak, and alot of little gggrrrrs along the way. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/58 "2002-09-21T07:30:18Z")
My usual “replacement” words and phrases are “Oh googlymoog!” “Alphabeta!” “Rastelhump!” “Filthin-flarin-foul-filth!” (a tip of the hat to Bill Cosby) and “Stinkin’” (i.e. “Then the stinkin’ idiot cuts me off again!” “Oooh, you stinkin’ copier, you ate my rastelhumpin’ paper! Alphabeta!”) ---
**Author:** ![yanx4ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/85e7bf/32.png) [@yanx4ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanx4ever)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/59 "2002-09-21T16:53:43Z")
MOTHER OF PEARL!!! ---
**Author:** ![marinwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@marinwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marinwood)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341/60 "2002-09-21T22:49:50Z")
I’m another “MOTHER OF PEARL!!!” user. Also: “Oh, my Sainted Aunt!” And: My siblings & I used the phrase “You Schmoo!” as a slur. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-you-use-instead-of-curse-words/128341.md?page=4)