I’m looking for some colorful, possibly dumb and dorky, words and phrases that would substitute for swearing for a character.
Anyone?
Decided to update this post with the list so far from here and Facebook.. These are GREAT! Thank you everyone. Keep them coming.
schucks, fudge, fiddlesticks, sonofagun
Granny used to say Hoover Dam! Horse poop, fish hooks and geewillikers are others that come to
horse hockey, darn, darn-it-all, giminy/jeeminy
Sugar the cat! Sweet biscuits!
Judas Priest, Sun of a Pup
FIRETRUCK
Cripes! Jiminy Cricket! Shut the front door! Freakin’! Zoinks! Jinkies! (those are from the Scooby-Doo oeuvre.) Crikey! Crappity doo-dah! Heckuva, sweet jeehosefat, darned, bull-shucks. Holy shoot!
Fewmets (Basically, they’re dragon droppings. Can’t get much dorkier than that. 😉
My personal favorite (also in the dorky category, but in more of a Clark Kent way) is "Heavens to Betsy!"
Fudge
Sugar
Jeepers Christmas
"Dang it" is a popular one. "Shoot". "Darn it"
"Jumpin’ Jiminy Christmas!" – this is one that I’ve only heard south of the Ohio River. Not sure how wide spread it is.
Hol(e)y Buckets!
My grandma used to say "Shoot far fuzzy" or "dadgummit" or "well….foot"!
Guber
Fudge.
Frick.
Fadoodle. (Usually "I don’t give a flying fadoodle.")
Shut the front door! – instead of Shut the f*** up!
"Cahn-sarn-it" and to steal one from Daffy Duck – "Razza-frazza".
Oh, applesauce has been a fav lately. But for the BEST ever swearing without swearing, watch Ned Flanders on The Simpsons.
I’ve taken to saying "Mother biscuit!" lately. No, I have no idea where that came from.
"Rassumfrassum" is another popular one with me.
Colonel Potter (M*A*S*H) always used to say "horse hockey" with great conviction. He also used buffalo bagels and cow cookies.
A friend of mine is quite fond of holy guacamole.
My grandmother always said, "BS" followed by, "That means Brown Sugar."
Ratzafrazz is another one. This one I used to avoid being grounded.
“Fewmets”.
Basically, they’re dragon droppings. Can’t get much dorkier than that. 😉
LOL…okay so now you went and gave me an idea for the other book, the one I’m NOT supposed to be working on. I’m making a note.
Thanks.
My personal favorite (also in the dorky category, but in more of a Clark Kent way) is “Heavens to Betsy!”
Man, I love that word.
Here are the ones I use because they sound sort-of like the bad ones.
Fudge
Sugar
Jeepers Christmas
Good luck with this!
Fudge and Sugar…yes! I’d forgotten. Thanks.
“Dang it” is a popular one. “Shoot”. “Darn it”
“Jumpin’ Jiminy Christmas!” – this is one that I’ve only heard south of the Ohio River. Not sure how wide spread it is.
Love that last one! Thanks.
Hol(e)y Buckets!
I like that one. Thanks!
My grandma used to say “Shoot far fuzzy” or “dadgummit” or “well….foot”!
Guber, dooby said with conviction of course and thzt way these words can mean anything and it is up to the person reading it what interpretation they put on them
Just a thought as always (they don’t computer in the spell check so that is a start
Anne McKenna
Good ones, Anne. Thanks.
Trying to dig into son’s brain for you. So far he’s just told me to point you to the Wikipedia page of Klingon invectives.
Fudge.
Frick.
Fadoodle. (Usually “I don’t give a flying fadoodle.”)
That’s off the top of his head. If he comes up with any more, I’ll let you know. 🙂
LOL. Frick and Frack. Yes. Thanks.
Shut the front door! – instead of Shut the f*** up!
Good one. Thanks!
“Cahn-sarn-it” and to steal one from Daffy Duck – “Razza-frazza”.
Oh, applesauce has been a fav lately. But for the BEST ever swearing without swearing, watch Ned Flanders on The Simpsons.
Mar
Applesauce is a good one. Ack…forgot about Ned!Thanks for the reminder.
what about “Rats!”, Pants, flippin’ instead of F***ing and son of a… and leave it at that.
I’ve taken to saying “Mother biscuit!” lately. No, I have no idea where that came from.
“Rassumfrassum” is another popular one with me.
LOVE Mother biscuit! thanks!
Another one I had opportunity to use today:
“Oh, piddle!”
oh yes!
Colonel Potter (M*A*S*H) always used to say “horse hockey” with great conviction. He also used buffalo bagels and cow cookies.
A friend of mine is quite fond of holy guacamole.
What a fun list so far!
Oh yes, Colonel Potter! Thanks. I just updated the entry with all the phrases from here and Facebook. It’s been fun seeing what people have come up with. Plus it did just what I had hoped, sparked a few creations of my own for my character.
My grandmother always said, “BS” followed by, “That means Brown Sugar.”
Ratzafrazz is another one. This one I used to avoid being grounded.
I keep trying to say Ratzafrazz but I stumbled over it. Guess I would be grounded. LOL Thanks.
Creative swearing
Jake used to say “Snicklefritz” at school all the time, especially when he was frustrated. He was being tested for some special needs at the time, and the school was very concerned.
“He keeps repeating nonsense words over and over,” they said. “We’re worried that maybe he’s autistic.”
So I called Jake over to talk and asked him what it was all about and why he said that word all the time.
“Well, if I swear I’ll be in trouble. So I just made up some nonsense words and I can “swear” all I want without actually “swearing” and getting in trouble.”
Oh, I laughed about that one.
Re: Creative swearing
What a great story! Thank you.
Cussing
Pish Poss Piddly Pooh
And the reason I say it is that you can’t hardly do it w/o smiling (almost).
And in homage to the new Battlestar:
Fricky frack!
And thanks to a movie called “The Gathering”:
God’s Teeth!
Re: Cussing
(sorry! That should be Pish POSH Piddly Pooh)
And I forgot one I’ve said most of my adult life (and that’s a looong time):
Geez Louise!
Re: Cussing
hahaha. Geez Louise is good too!
In Mystery of the Third Lucretia the two main characters come up with the word “meep” as a made-up curse word the two of them say. It’s always funny when they say it. 🙂 Maybe something along those lines . . .
Meep makes me giggle. Yes, I think I’ll be trying to make up some words of my own.
In addition to horse hockey, see horse pucky. Also criminy.
Double-darn.
Jumpin’ Jehospehat.
All good ones, thank you. Double-darn I used to say a lot.
Not using curse words
These are great for the younger stories, but teens would never say, “Darn,” so I still feel trapped at times. One thing a teen would say that isn’t so uncomfortable for me to write is “f-ing.” You’re not really cussing but the message is understood.
Re: Not using curse words
Well I’m not thinking for a kid in the book…I’m looking for an adult.
The office manager at my last job used to tell malfunctioning machines “C’mon, you piece of shoe leather.” Her four-year-old daughter picked it up. I say “Criminetly, dadgum, razzerfrazzershnazzerfrazzer, dagnab it.”
SF shows sometimes invent euphemisms. The only ones I can think of that have been adopted by anybody are old Battlestar Gallactica’s “frack” and the immortal but short-lived Firefly’s “gorram.”
Dont forget ethnic backgrounds. Donnervetter! Oy gevalt!
In the brilliant comic PS238, the five-year-old genius with world-conquering ambitions, Zodon, is confined to a float chair which school officials (after intense consultation with his parents and the ACLU) have rigged to override his vocal chords. He can say whatever he wants, but instead of certain words and phrases disruptive to school discipline, his audience will hear innocuous random words; e.g.: when a bully threatens to look for him on the playground, he responds “Yeah, I’ll look for your sloping skull, you geranium.” When he really lets rip, he starts singing show tunes.
Thank you.
Everyone calls my husband’s father Buck so we often say “Son of a Buck!” and laugh =)
“son of a Buck” is good! hahaha
My friend actually says “Curses!” when she’s angry. I cracked up the first time I heard it and the reactions she gets to it when she’s out in public are pretty funny. Usually a double-take or a raised eyebrow.
very funny. Thanks!
i’m 16 and normally curse when i hurt myself or get killed in a game haha i normaly say the “F” word. But, when my nefue is around i replace Fu*k with “chuff” for example:
*Stubbs Toe*
” OWWWWWW, Chuffin ‘ell! ”
haha and instead of Sh*t just plain and simple “poo or poop” haha… have fun
Loop-hole to saying sh**
Sugar
Honey
Iced
Tea
These are a few I like using (in public)
Jeep and Chrysler! Spanish Meatballs!
Flim-Flam! Holly Tostitos!
Sheep Dip! Magic Marker!
ah Baloney! You Doughnut Hole!
Go Play in Traffic! Mack the Knife!
How to Swear
When my Grandpa got mad at someone, he’d call them a “dirty, lowdown hom-yocker”. BTW, I found your post by doing a google search on how to swear without swearing. I swear! 😉 SuZB
Re: How to Swear
me too!
My Favorite Swear
Son of a Buick for Chrysler sake, you Chevyed over my Ford V8.
HUGGING THE ROCK and Tricycle
I read your beautiful book last week, at Nicole’s suggestion. I’m Tricyle’s newest verse novelist. Just wanted to stop by and introduce myself!
All the best,
Caroline Rose
a few of my personal favourites are: Jeez, Donkey(instead of b**ch), pancakes(don’t even ask! lol),sugar, holy baloney(dont know where i got that from!) Hope this helped!
So simple in content, yet so powerful.
Re: Salvation of the Word
Thank you.
Oh, this sounds so hard. I’m a former teacher and have been in lots of situations as a substitute with kids who are determined to not budge an inch. It’s SO hard. I’m in awe of you going in there and giving it your very best effort each and every time, Susan. I’m there with you in spirit.
They are selfish and self centered that is what has probably put them in this situation in the first place. As I have said there are plenty of people out there me included that would give anything for even one hour of your time.
I know how hard this is for you. You are right when you say they can sense your insecurities and they are playing on those. That is just what they do. One thing you have over them right now is you get to go home at the end of the sessions they can’t. I would not be able to do what you are doing. They do not deserve your time and attention. You deserve so much better but I also know that you will not give up no matter how hard it gets but you will also be just as equally glad when this experience is over. I guess they just don’t get it, the concept of what words can actually do for you. Really though I think they just don’t get the whole concept of life and therefore you will always be fighting a losing battle,
There is one consolation there is an end in sight a light at the end of the tunnel the sessions will eventually be over and yes life as we know it goes on with or without them.
I guess they are scared to try because as sad as it is most of them maybe cannot see a life beyond their incarceration and that is maybe the reason. Why should they try? What do they have to look forward to? That is what I perceive is the problem. Absolutely nothing to do with you.
Too bad you can’t take in a DVD or something. Show them how some people in the real world live I mean the ones living there lives against all odds. I guess even then they would not even care. After all life is all about them isn’t it.
– Anne McKenna PS Challenge excepted whatever or whenever that may be.
ellie wrote
Good luck to you Susan, and bless your heart for braving this out. It unfolds like a movie. I just wish there was a predictably happy ending.
I have no advice for you as I am not a teacher. But I did want you to know that I think you are an amazing woman for taking on this task. I hope you find the girls in a different mood next time.
Sounds like you’re reaching them. And who knows what changes you may bring to their lives? Good work.