# Words invented to be polite **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2002, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788 "2002-07-19T12:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/21 "2002-07-20T17:00:45Z")
That you’re a “Battlestar Galactica” fan?..Timmy ---
**Author:** ![brainychick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@brainychick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainychick)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/22 "2002-07-20T21:07:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kat \* > \*\*I am probably the only living person who actually uses the word “freaking”. \*\* No, you’re not. And for me, add “frigging” and “stinking.” And I have been known to respond to something incredulously bizarre or outrageous by saying, “Two words: Gee. Zuss.” ---
**Author:** ![VDarlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@VDarlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VDarlin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/23 "2002-07-20T21:22:11Z")
I use “freaking” on a regular basis, anymore. I also use quite a few other one’s listed here. The one that I say now, thanks to a friend of mine who does not cuss, and that makes my boyfriend laugh profusely, whenever I say it, is, “DAG NABBIT”! So far, the only one I’ve noticed my kids using is “Oh Maaaan”. I will probably laugh to the point of crying the first time I hear one of them blurt out, “Dag Nabbit”. 😃 ~V ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/24 "2002-07-20T21:55:50Z")
I’ll admit it. I have a horrible, terrible, shamefully dirty potty-mouth. It’s just a reflex really, and the stupidist things set it off. eg: ::drop icecube:: “monkeyfuck!” See what I mean? So my son’s getting old enough now that I _really_ need to start watching what I say. I know this. So I’ve been making an effort to cut down on the profane outbursts. I’m having mixed results. Half the time I don’t realize what I’m saying until it’s already been said. When I _do_ manage to check myself, however, “duck!” usually seems to work for me. Something about the hard ‘duh’ sound makes it seem rather menacing, don’t you think? I’ve also used “monkeylicker” a couple times, which I really like; but I haven’t quite decided yet if it’s really much of an improvement over the original. bella ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/25 "2002-07-21T00:30:38Z")
“Holy Shipwreck!” “Son of a Biscuit Eater!” You can switch over to those mild oaths, several brain waves AFTER you start uttering the unexpurgated versions. I think I first heard them on the late lamented TV show “Jack of all Trades”…Timmy ---
**Author:** ![Beighley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a587f6/32.png) [@Beighley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beighley)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/26 "2002-07-21T01:01:16Z")
I do catch myself saying “freaking” around my little sister, but one I have picked up from a different sister is to just say “GRRRRR” when I am frustrated. For awhile, a friend of mine would say “GRRR, ARGGGG” (you know, like at the end of Buffy?) and I still can’t get that out of my head. Dammit. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/27 "2002-07-21T03:31:47Z")
I’ve taken to using invectives they use on _SpongeBob Squarepants_. FISHPASTE!!! :mad: TARTAR SAUCE!!! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Hippy144](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/90db22/32.png) [@Hippy144](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy144)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/28 "2002-07-21T05:34:56Z")
I had a Jewish friend once that got me started saying “Oi” (oy?) everytime I felt like sighing. Took me awhile to get rid of that for some reason. Lately I’ve been using “Merde!” and “Tu bête salope!”, which isn’t polite in French, but nobody I know speaks it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/29 "2002-07-21T06:35:45Z")
I’m finding this whole thread to be in-crudding-feckable. ---
**Author:** ![VDarlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@VDarlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VDarlin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/30 "2002-07-21T10:01:21Z")
I say grrrr a lot, too. For some reason, my boyfriend finds it highly amusing that I growl when frustrated. He, of course, can cuss with the best of 'em(hey, so can I, I grew up with a sailor for a dad), but when he’s around his kids, he finds himself saying, “goodness” a lot, which seems kind of strange coming from him. My brother says, “Gad Zeek!” which drives me up the freakin’ wall! ~V ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/31 "2002-07-21T17:58:42Z")
SON-OF-A-MOTHER! ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/32 "2002-07-21T21:29:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gatopescado \* > **My boss wanders thru the office and will exclaim "BANDERSNATCH** (A man after my own heart!) If I’m around company who’d appreciate the literary reference, I’ll let loose with “fug!” (Norman Mailer) or “I obscenity into the milk of thy rejected credit approval.” (Hemmingway), or my family favorite “Sir, you’re an ass!” (Twain). I’ve always liked foreign substiutes, like “shakreff” (Polish for "dog’s (menstrual) blood), or “THE FRENCH WORD FOR SEAL!” (that would be “phoque”). but too often this can come off as pretentious. Often, a bowderized response is the best revenge. I like to think that if/when they strap me into the electric chair and ask if I have any last words, and, expected to hold forth with every possible conjugation of the Almighty Anglo-Saxonism, I instead utter: “Well, fiddle-dee-dee!” ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/33 "2002-07-22T00:25:30Z")
Lots of “freakin” here too. > [@](#): > > I go for a lot of the rackin’ frackin’ stuff as made famous by Yosemite Sam. Exactly: “Maffle frackin’ pickin’ blat!” Or: “SSShhhhhherman!” This is from an old inside joke involving “Herman”, and saves me well. ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788/34 "2002-07-22T00:33:08Z")
Dag! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-invented-to-be-polite/119788.md?page=1)