# "Sacre Bleu" Definition? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854 "2011-12-11T22:49:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/1 "2011-12-11T22:49:13Z")
**D** and I just had an argument over this phrase, and she was right: "Bleu apparently means “blue”, but I always thought it was an expletive - “By the scared blood of Jesus!” Guess I was wrong, huh? Okay on my way to the den to take my licks.;)🙂 Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/2 "2011-12-11T22:55:02Z")
> [@](#): > > The phrase originated from the swear words “sacré bleu”, a Marian oath, referring to the color (i.e., “sacred blue”) associated with Mary, mother of Jesus. > **[Sacrebleu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrebleu)** > > Sacrebleu or sacre bleu is a French expression used as a cry of surprise, irritation or displeasure. It is a minced oath form of sacré Dieu (holy God), which is considered profane by some religions due to one of the Ten Commandments in the Bible, which reads "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." > The expression today is not used in France. In the English-speaking world, it is well known, perhaps from Agatha Christie's books about the fictional Belgian detective Hercule Poi... ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/3 "2011-12-11T23:00:11Z")
Thank you, **Fish Cheer** , and great nick, BTW! Makes me all nostalgic!!! 😉 Quasi ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/4 "2011-12-11T23:28:55Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > **D** and I just had an argument over this phrase, and she was right: "Bleu apparently means “blue”, but I always thought it was an expletive - “By the scared blood of Jesus!” > > Guess I was wrong, huh? > > Okay on my way to the den to take my licks.;)🙂 > > Thanks > > Quasi Sacré bleu ! ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/5 "2011-12-11T23:33:48Z")
You can get away with Sacre Bleu most of the time, but steer clear of “Tabernac” in Quebec. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/6 "2011-12-12T07:11:23Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Thank you, Fish Cheer, and great nick, BTW! Makes me all nostalgic!!! My treat. I’m glad you like it. > [@Bill\_Door](#): > > You can get away with Sacre Bleu most of the time, but steer clear of “Tabernac” in Quebec. I’ve never been to Québec, but judging from this [movie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Cop,_Bad_Cop) I saw on a plane a while ago, that’s all they _ever_ say. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/7 "2011-12-12T09:25:06Z")
Wow. Shows how a folk etymology can prop up some unfounded confidence. I had always been _certain_ “Sacré bleu” best corresponded with the English “my heavens!” I thought bleu (blue) stood in for “sky” (as in the wild blue yonder of the USAF song). So, to my reasoning, “Sacred Blue” = “Heaven”. My confidence in this interpretation was strengthened by the knowledge that French (as well as some other languages) uses the same word for both “sky” and “heaven” (“ciel”). I had always thought of it as mild, polite company, interjection or exclamation. I had never thought of it as a heavy expletive or swear word. Ignorance fought. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/8 "2011-12-12T09:44:03Z")
> [@Fish\_Cheer](#): > > [Sacrebleu - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrebleu) I might be wrong, but I doubt it had anything to do with Mary, regardless of what wikipedia says. If you look at old French curse words, you’ll notice a lot of “bleu” : morBLEU, ventreBLEU, sacreBLEU, etc… In fact, “bleu”, here doesn’t refer to the colour but is an euphemism for “dieu” (god). So, “sacrebleu!” most correct translation would be something like “Holy gosh!” (And in the case of ventrebleu, whose actual hidden meaning would be “by God’s belly”, I always suspected that “ventre” (belly) was itself an euphemism for a more private part of god’s anatomy.) ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/9 "2011-12-12T13:49:28Z")
Zut alors! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/10 "2011-12-12T14:19:02Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I might be wrong, but I doubt it had anything to do with Mary, regardless of what wikipedia says. > > If you look at old French curse words, you’ll notice a lot of “bleu” : morBLEU, ventreBLEU, sacreBLEU, etc… > > In fact, “bleu”, here doesn’t refer to the colour but is an euphemism for “dieu” (god). So, “sacrebleu!” most correct translation would be something like “Holy gosh!” > (And in the case of ventrebleu, whose actual hidden meaning would be “by God’s belly”, I always suspected that “ventre” (belly) was itself an euphemism for a more private part of god’s anatomy.) But that’s exactly what the wikipedia article says: > [@](#): > > Other sources[3] propose it coming from old blasphemous curses relating to God, used from the late Middle-Age (some are attested as early as the 12th century) to the 14th (at the latest), with many variants: morbleu or mordieu, corbleu, palsambleu, jarnidieu, tudieu, respectively standing for mort [de] Dieu (God’s death), corps [de] Dieu (God’s body), par le sang [de] Dieu (by God’s blood, the two latters possibly referring to the Eucharistic bread and wine), je renie Dieu (I deny God), tue Dieu (kill God)… ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/11 "2011-12-12T15:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > The phrase originated from the swear words “sacré bleu”, a Marian oath, referring to the color (i.e., “sacred blue”) associated with Mary, mother of Jesus. Wait; if the old French were repeating Martian oaths, doesn’t that lend credence to von Daniken’s theories about – Oh, wait. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/12 "2011-12-12T18:52:42Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > You can get away with Sacre Bleu most of the time, but steer clear of “Tabernac” in Quebec. If you’re in a situation where swearing is appropriate/expected/gonna happen anyways, saying _tabarnak_ is as good a swear as any in Québec. Also - or along with - ostie calîsse de crisse de ciboire de sacrament… Religious-based swear words are more common than scatological or sexual ones, here. There is no more reason to avoid the first set than there are the others. You won’t generally find these words quoted in the newspaper, but you won’t find “fuck” in English-language papers either (though “fuck” isn’t really considered profane in French). Saying “sacré bleu” or “zut alors!” in Québec will get you an odd look, not because it isn’t understood, but because it’s _France_ French, and just not really used here all that much. Fun fact: in an attempt to “reclaim” the language, the Catholic church in Québec (Montreal’s archdiocese) had an ad campaign with [signs giving the proper definition of the words](http://feed.angeli.ca/post/475147623/via-blogue-branchez-vous-com-ad-campaign-for-the) in French, of course. It generated some amusement and more world-wide understanding of Québec profanity, but I’m not sure it accomplished the intended goal. Here’s the first non-pay-per-view [article](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/montreal_diocesan_campaign_posters_teach_sacred_meaning_of_religious_swear_words/)I found about it. ---
**Author:** ![Themenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Themenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/13 "2011-12-12T19:58:00Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > (though “fuck” isn’t really considered profane in French). Getting somewhat off topic here - Florence Foresti, a popularish French comic is on tour right now with her new show titled “Mother-fucker”. So here in Paris we have posters tastefully proclaiming “motherfucker” in the street, frosted blonde newsreaders discussing “motherfucker” on tv at peak viewing times etc I think I’m the only person who’s even found this to be noteworthy. [Motherfucker](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=florence+foresty+motherfucker+affiche&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=1344l21403l0l24122l45l29l1l0l0l1l2520l24160l5-12.6.3.1.3l30l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=767&bih=352&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=llnmTuPlAYyyhAeJtPT0AQ) (not sure if it’s safe for work - but it’s safe enough for display in the streets of Paris) ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/14 "2011-12-12T20:47:42Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > If you look at old French curse words, you’ll notice a lot of “bleu” : morBLEU, ventreBLEU, sacreBLEU, etc… > > In fact, “bleu”, here doesn’t refer to the colour but is an euphemism for “dieu” (god). So, “sacrebleu!” most correct translation would be something like “Holy gosh!” This is also my understanding. They’re minced oaths: “morbleu”, for example, would be a deformation of “mort à Dieu” (“death to God”) to make it less recognizable. Compare with the old Quebec swear words “torrieux” and “torriâble”, which I understand literally mean “tort à Dieu” and “tort au diable” (“harm to God” and “harm to the Devil”, respectively). ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/15 "2011-12-12T23:57:04Z")
In the Middle Ages, people swore a lot. Not they way we think of swearing, although they did their share of cussing as well. These days, it seems only thieves and druggies who are trying to convince the cops they are fine, upstanding citizens and start babbling, “I swear,” or when they are REALLY desperate, “I swear on my mother’s life!” Back in dem olden days, God had a much bigger role in everyday life. And to convince people of their truthfulness, or their honesty, THEY would swear. To make the oath even more impressive, they’d tack on “By the Blood of God,” “By the Wounds of God.” Folks figured when you started talking like that, you HAD to be telling the truth, or God would send down lightning bolts and fry you on the spot. People also discovered that when they DIDN’T get hit by lightning, they could spice up their profanity by putting similar phrases. “God’s wounds,” “God’s blood,” and the ever-creative “God’s toenails.” Sometimes you’ll hear an old-fashioned expletive, “Zounds!” That is actually a contraction of “God’s wounds.” British people like to get all heated up and start talking about “bloody this,” and “bloody that.” Americans think those phrases are rather hilarious, if not messy. But the British “bloody” is derived from the oath-making “God’s blood,” and using it casually is borderline blasphemy. “Sacre bleu” falls into the same category. It’s similar to today’s phrase, “Oh my God!” People in the United States have gotten too informal about swearing. These phrases, like the really vulgar or excretory ones used today, were considered to be rude when used in polite company. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/16 "2011-12-13T18:34:02Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I might be wrong, but I doubt it had anything to do with Mary, regardless of what wikipedia says. > > If you look at old French curse words, you’ll notice a lot of “bleu” : morBLEU, ventreBLEU, sacreBLEU, etc… > > In fact, “bleu”, here doesn’t refer to the colour but is an euphemism for “dieu” (god). So, “sacrebleu!” most correct translation would be something like “Holy gosh!” > (And in the case of ventrebleu, whose actual hidden meaning would be “by God’s belly”, I always suspected that “ventre” (belly) was itself an euphemism for a more private part of god’s anatomy.) **Clairobscur** has it right. And it’s _sacrebleu_, not _sacré bleu_. _Nomdebleu_! as we say here for _nomdedieu_. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/17 "2011-12-13T19:03:38Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > … > Saying “sacré bleu” or “zut alors!” in Québec will get you an odd look, not because it isn’t understood, but because it’s _France_ French, and just not really used here all that much. > … I suppose it’s somewhat analogous to telling someone to “naff off” in Baltimore or Pittsburgh - it makes you sound British. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/18 "2011-12-13T23:11:06Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Saying “sacré bleu” or “zut alors!” in Québec will get you an odd look, not because it isn’t understood, but because it’s _France_ French, and just not really used here all that much. But notice that while Quebec is famous for religiously-derived swear words, they are also commonly found among other French speakers, and speakers of other languages as well. That’s what _sacrebleu_ and _sapristi_ and the like are, after all. _Zut_, I don’t know the origin of. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/19 "2011-12-13T23:26:43Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > . . . _Zut_, I don’t know the origin of. [Respectfully submitted for your perusal](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=15355) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854/20 "2011-12-14T04:44:50Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Saying “sacré bleu” or “zut alors!” in Québec will get you an odd look, not because it isn’t understood, but because it’s _France_ French, and just not really used here all that much. > . If you’re not a time traveller, you unlikely to hear “sacrebleu” in France, either. It hasn’t been in use for, I’d guess, some centuries. Typically, you’d hear it while watching a “three musketeers” style movie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacre-bleu-definition/605854.md?page=2)