Profanity Bywords and Slang 1

Profanity 1. the quality of being profane; irreverence. 2. profane conduct or language; a profane act or utterance. 3. obscenity (Dictionary.com) 2

Profane characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious (Dictionary.com) 3

Euphemisms euphemism: 1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. 4

Euphemisms for Death Bitten the dust Bought the farm Croaked Kick the bucket Six feet under Passed away 5

General Euphemisms 1. Correctional facility Prison 2. Electronic surveillance Wiretapping and bugging 3. Landfill Garbage dump 6

General Euphemisms 4. Visually challenged Blind 5. Person of interest Suspect in a crime 6. House of ill repute prostitution 7

Dictionary.com “A euphemism is a generally harmless word, name, or phrase that substitutes an offensive or suggestive one.[1] Some euphemisms intend to amuse, while others intend to give positive appearances to negative events or even mislead entirely. Euphemisms also often take the place of profanity.” 8

Euphemisms often used as slang or by-words My Lordy – this is repeating the name of the Lord in vain Golly – a euphemistic substitute for God (Webster) Gosh – A softened form of God; a mild oath (Webster) 9

Good gracious, good grief, my goodness! These are all mild oaths, where the word of good or goodness, is used in place of saying “God” 10

Thank goodness = is a reference to the goodness of God but often used as a slang phrase for emphasis Goodness knows = reference to fact that God knows 11

Gee = euphemism for Jesus Gee whiz = a mild oath in which Jesus and something unusual or extraordinary are joined together 12

Heavens, My heavens, for heaven’s sake, good heaven's = here the heavens are called to witness to the truth of the statement made – the problem is that the phrases are often used as by-words, as slang 13

Mt. 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 14

Darn Dang “A tame curse word” Means “damn” 15

What do these phrases mean? “Gosh darn it” “Gosh dang it” “Dang you” “Darn it” “Oh my goodness” 16

It is not wrong to use the various names of God in our conversation when we use them in a reverent and respectful manner God forbid If God wills 17

May God be with you The Lord grant mercy 18

Lev. 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD 19

Mt. 5:34, 37 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 20

Mt. 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 21

Rom. 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 22

Js. 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 23

Js. 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison 24

Col. 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 25

References Guy N. Woods, Commentary on James, Gospel Advocate Co., 1967 Pure Speech and Profanity, Tract by Garland Elkins and Stoy Pate Spiritual Sword, associate editorial on PROFANITY, Garland Elkins 26