# What makes certain words foul?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-certain-words-foul/170492
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 23, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-certain-words-foul/170492 "2003-04-23T02:06:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-certain-words-foul/170492/1 "2003-04-23T02:06:39Z")
I’ve been thinking, what is it about certain words that make them generally unacceptable? And why are euphemisms for those words socially acceptable? “Screw you!” is an acceptable way to express anger at someone. On the other hand "F **k you!" is considered very offensive. Why? What makes crap less obscene than S** t? Or is it OK to say friggin or freakin?
OK, OK, I’m getting repetitive here, so, let’s hear your opinions.
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### Author:  [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-certain-words-foul/170492/2 "2003-04-23T02:07:56Z")
I ment to say Or why is it OK to say friggin or freakin?