Bejesus - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Bejesus is an informal exclamation used to express surprise, shock, or emphasis, often in phrases like scared the bejesus out of me. It adds intensity to statements.
Definition:
An exclamation or mild oath expressing surprise, frustration, or emphasis.
Synonyms:
heck, gosh, darn, goodness
Part of Speech:
interjection, noun
Antonyms:
calmness, indifference
Common Collocations:
scare the bejesus out of, frighten the bejesus out of, beat the bejesus out of
Derivatives:
bejesused (rare), bejesuses (rare)
Usage Tips:
Use "bejesus" informally for emphasis or shock; avoid in formal contexts.
Common Phrases:
scare the bejesus out of someone, beat the bejesus out of something
Etymology:
Derived from "by Jesus," softened to avoid blasphemy in casual speech.
Examples:
- 1. The loud noise scared the bejesus out of me!
- 2. He ran so fast it knocked the bejesus out of his shoes.
- 3. She shouted loud enough to wake the bejesus out of everyone.
- 4. That horror movie will scare the bejesus out of you!