# Why 'frack' in BSG and not 'frig'? (warning:real swearing within) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118 "2005-01-17T01:07:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/21 "2005-01-17T19:05:19Z")
I thought that I heard one of the characters (a pilot whilst flying a ship?) remark… _Aw… I’m fracked!_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/22 "2005-01-17T19:22:46Z")
> [@Michael Ellis](#): > > Well, if you ask me the whole damn show is stupid and I’ve no clue why they brought it back. So don’t watch it and go play in the corner until the next reality show/cop drama/family sitcom garbage comes out. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/23 "2005-01-17T20:51:26Z")
“Hand me the keys, you fuzzy sock-sucker!” ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/24 "2005-01-18T01:44:16Z")
As long as we’re discussing the meaning of “to frig,” it should be pointed out that the word very likely derives from a ME word, fryggen, which meant “to wiggle.” There are appearances of “frig” going back at least to the 16th century, where it usually is a vulgar and offensive euphemism for copulation. This usage certainly predates the association of “frig” with female masturbation. One source I found puts the word as being derived from “quiver,” from Old French friquer, “to rub.” This seems pretty dubious to me, especially since “quiver” is still around in modern English, but a linguist I am not. I couldn’t easily find an online cite for these, but feel free to verify the word’s etymology in a decent, unabridged dictionary. 😃 Certainly, frigging is hardly more innocent than fucking. ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/25 "2005-01-18T02:09:16Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > They use “frack” because they wanted a word that sounded like it might be dirty but actually meant nothing, and could therefore offend nobody. Except, as I just found out, a bend-y out bathroom mirror in the newest IKEA catalogue. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/26 "2005-01-18T02:09:36Z")
> [@Othersider](#): > > I’m tellling mommy you said a bad word! When she gets home, she’ll take away your robot dog! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/27 "2005-01-18T02:29:11Z")
“Frack” does sound dorky. I highly recommend “frell” and “dren.” Now those are cool, and I use them in real life. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/28 "2005-01-19T02:16:32Z")
For your enjoyment…[Favorite fictional swear word.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=167296) ---
**Author:** ![Zonyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zonyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zonyx)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/29 "2005-01-19T09:44:51Z")
> [@Monstre](#): > > In Scrubs, Eliot’s word is “frick”. > > That does sound better than frack, I think. (I also like it better than “frig”). Dr Evil also uses that in the Austin Powers movies. In fact, I used to use it as a kid. It’s really done the rounds! ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/30 "2005-01-19T16:30:05Z")
> [@WotNot](#): > > No. “Frig” meant masturbation in Victorian times, which I’m quite sure was some time before you were commenting to your friend about it. The fact that some people were unaware of this and thought it was an inoffensive euphemism has nothing to do with it. Yet it was widely used on prime time TV, even US shows, as an acceptable euphemism, regardless of ancient usage, so my point stands. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118/31 "2005-01-19T17:13:51Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Yet it was widely used on prime time TV, even US shows, as an acceptable euphemism, regardless of ancient usage, so my point stands. Perhaps I missed your point then, in which case I apologise. _My_ point was that frig is a genuine word with a history in print from (surreptitiously consults OED) 1598 to the present, that someone who cares about such things might reasonably find offensive. Frack, on the other hand, is a totally made up word that merely sounds a bit rude, but which might plausibly be explained away as being entirely innocent should any of the afore-mentioned god-botherers start throwing their weight around. Or it was, at any rate. The most recent episode of BSG (in the UK) had Apollo accusing Starbuck of “fracking” Baltar. To my mind that spoils the fun by being a little too on-the-nose about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-frack-in-bsg-and-not-frig-warning-real-swearing-within/285118.md?page=1)