# What words do you or people you know substitute for obscenities and blasphemies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 24, 2019, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137 "2019-02-24T23:02:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/41 "2019-02-25T16:27:06Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Bloody Hell (I know in England this is a Thing Not To Be Said), but since I use it in America, not so much. It’s not that bad. I’d say it in front of my Mother and regular clients, which is my usual acid test. I can only think of ‘goodness me’ for something I actually substitute, in place of something like ‘FFS’. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/42 "2019-02-25T16:28:11Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > My SO’s parents are British and still view the use of _Bloody_ as somewhat offensive. Mom will mildly rebuke Dad for saying it in public. They are in their 70s and 80s and have been in Texas for going on fifty years, so their use of British English may be somewhat ossified. But it appears that, in some circles, _bloody_ was considered an expletive into at least the late 20th century. Yeah, I think they’re behind the curve on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/43 "2019-02-25T16:36:04Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > …My SO’s parents are British and still view the use of _Bloody_ as somewhat offensive. Mom will mildly rebuke Dad for saying it in public. They are in their 70s and 80s and have been in Texas for going on fifty years, so their use of British English may be somewhat ossified. But it appears that, in some circles, _bloody_ was considered an expletive into at least the late 20th century. Here’s the Perfect Master on the word: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1420/whats-the-origin-of-the-british-slang-word-bloody/](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1420/whats-the-origin-of-the-british-slang-word-bloody/) And a thread about it: [use of bloody - Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758858) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/44 "2019-02-25T16:49:15Z")
And see: > **[Is "bloody" still regarded as a profanity in the UK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=364979)** > > Twenty-some years ago, I was in the UK and was told that “bloody” was the equivalent of “fuck,” and would never be used in polite company. These days it seems much more commonplace - has it been drained of its offensiveness for most Brits? Under... [English Word Bloody - Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=479399) ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/45 "2019-02-25T16:50:23Z")
I’ve been trying to reduce my swearing. I’ve started using “flip” as an F Bomb. Mostly as “flipping”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/46 "2019-02-25T16:57:30Z")
“Frickin” is my usual substitute for “fuckin’.” I occasionally ask my kids to stop acting like “jackelopes” instead of “jackasses,” though the latter is not technically a curse word. But, hey, when there’s other people around, it comes off better when I ask my kids to stop acting like a bunch of jackelopes, or at least I like to think it does. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/47 "2019-02-25T17:18:22Z")
I use “farcus” to replace the f word, and “monkey” had just become an all-purpose naughty word substitute. The other night, I was fixing a light fixture and burned myself on a hot bulb and the words “Son of a monkey fighter” flowed out of mouth pretty effortlessly. Having kids has really tamed me. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/48 "2019-02-25T17:27:37Z")
Son of a biscuit, and the already mentioned mother of pearl. If I have time to react and modify my speech, sometimes I’ll say “mundane noodle”. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/49 "2019-02-25T17:31:31Z")
I’m probably dating myself but I find myself using “shazbut” alot when in the company of children. I believe I have uttered “honky mofo” once in a while too. RIP Robin Williams ---
**Author:** ![sjankis630](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ea924/32.png) [@sjankis630](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjankis630)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/50 "2019-02-25T17:38:00Z")
I have friends who used to be camp counselors with kids so they had to watch any salty language altogether. They just invented new phrases. One of my favorites was “Japanese Wizards,” ---
**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:** [February 25, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/51 "2019-02-25T18:35:40Z")
I knew a guy who would get all worked up and keep saying, “Frikin’”. He sounded fucking stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/52 "2019-02-25T18:37:26Z")
I consider “stupid” to be the ultimate swear word. Whenever I use that word at work, I end the sentence with “and I hate stupid.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/53 "2019-02-25T20:44:24Z")
A college friend of mine made me laugh when she said someone was “stoopid with two O’s.” I still quote her now and then. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/54 "2019-02-25T21:00:09Z")
[The origin story of an Austin band.](https://www.thedailybeast.com/mother-falcon-the-18-piece-indie-symphonic-rock-band-taking-texas-by-storm) > [@](#): > > When vocalist, cellist, guitarist, and pianist Nick Gregg was brainstorming band names around the lunch table at his high school in Austin, Texas a funny moment from the censored version of Die Hard came to mind. Bruce Willis’ original line: “Yipee ki-yay motherf—er," is morphed into: “Yipee ki-yay…mother falcon!” The name stuck. ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/55 "2019-02-25T21:39:24Z")
I use fricken or freakin’ as stand-ins for the obvious. For exclamations, I’ve used shazzbott (not sure of correct spelling) for a long time although now just “bleep” seems to be my go-to word. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/56 "2019-02-26T15:20:04Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I knew a guy who would get all worked up and keep saying, “Frikin’”. > > He sounded fucking stupid. I wasn’t going to relate this but -------- at the warehouse I work at, early on, this guy complained about the language we use sometimes. OK; I understand. But he did it at our daily stand-up before the shift basically to all of us at once. And in no uncertain terms on his own part. This lead all of us to be “understanding and cooperative” in our own way ------ by saying things like: Would you mind engaging in asexual reproduction? Consume excrement and perish. Pass your tongue over my genital organ. and others along that vein. We had so much fun and such wide participation that he got disgusted and quit. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/57 "2019-02-26T17:15:55Z")
I sometimes, when frustrated, will quote the SWAT Lt. Howard Hunter from _Hill Street Blues_: “Judas Priest, Frank!” ---
**Author:** ![polar\_bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@polar\_bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/polar_bear)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/58 "2019-02-26T17:19:21Z")
I mostly use other languages when cursing. Currently Romanian. Verstuurd vanaf mijn moto g(6) met Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/59 "2019-02-26T17:46:47Z")
For insults, I like to use snot- it’s not on the official list of dirty words, but who wants to be thought of as snot? Ratzenfatzenpackalumas - which has gotten me some really weird looks. Shortened to Rats > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > “Rassenfrassin’” (Yosemite Sam, more or less) I guess that’s where mine came from? I wonder if it evolved, of if Sam used the longer version I do. > [@Sangahyando](#): > > Do “bad words” in – relatively obscure – foreign languages count as “substitutes”? I’m rather fond of, and sometimes use, the Finnish word for “devils”; which English word would seem fairly mild – but apparently, in Finnish the word is a serious “swear”. The word is “perkele” (you can roll the “r” as extravagantly and lengthily as you like). My father picked up some Spanish swear words when he was in college - studying Spanish but he picked up these words from people he worked with in construction. Then Mom & I picked the words up from Dad, which explains why the following phrase will not be found in any Spanish dictionary, no matter how exhaustive it is: Shingala Cavaron I’m sure though, that someone who speaks Spanish, at least Mexican Spanish, would understand what I was saying, while they were snickering at my bad accent. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137/60 "2019-02-26T18:32:23Z")
Fustercluck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-or-people-you-know-substitute-for-obscenities-and-blasphemies/830137.md?page=4)