(January 14, 2012 at 10:17 pm)Stimbo Wrote:(January 14, 2012 at 9:57 pm)Ziploc Surprise Wrote: People used to say things like "god's speed". It has died out as the reference became outdated. I assume all religious language will die out sometime after religion dies out (if religion will indeed die out).
Gods have always been invoked in cursing, with the curses themselves becoming absorbed into the language. "God's bodkins" became the wonderfully mediaeval "Odd's bodkins"; "God's truth" evolved into "Strewth"; "(May) God blind me" gave us "Corblimey" or just plain "Blimey"; and so on. A particularly lovely example is "By Our Lady", which became "Bloody". Then there's all the euphemisms for Jesus and the devil, such as Jeepers and the deuce (which is a great name for an indie rock band).
So it's a bit more complex than just saying "Oh fuck" in place of "Oh God". I'm all for raising awareness of unconscious religious phraseology, however, at least where practical to do so; I don't bless someone for having survived a sneeze, for example.
Indeed and don't forget three extra words we were not allowed tosue at school; Gee (Jesus) Golly and Gosh . (God)
Being good little Catholic boys ,we would never knowingly blaspheme,so we said 'shit' or 'fuck',and if really peeved ; "cunt ", "cunt hooks", or "dead cunt".I still do,except rarely say "shit" any more; it''s vulgar.The other words are merely coarse and perfectly acceptable around adults.( unless speaking to my mother or a police officer)
