Hi Jamie(K),
Bruce here. I didn?t know that expression was so seriously rude.
I don?t want to know the details of it?s origin because as with
yourself I don?t like any sort of below the belt expressions.
I think some people (especially the young) think it is hip and cool to
use such expressions. They can be forgiven in some cases because
we non-Americans usually learn all about how to curse or swear as
we say in GB through the Hollywood films.
Are there any good clean swear words or curses you can share with
us that perhaps when necessary (beside emoticons) we could use?
Interjection … I think is the correct Grammatic expression for them.
The first one that comes to mind is … schucks … (I hope that?s clean!!!).
I mean, I think I heard in on “The Waltons” TV series some years ago.
Here are some good British ones :
… we can class these as negative expressions
- Expressions of Soul sensitivities or reflexes (i.e. shock, big surprise)
Oh dear! Oh no! Oh God! Cripes! Heavens above!
- Expressions of Intellectual / Mental protest (i.e. indignities, outrages)
It?s outrageous! Goodness gracious! Really! I say! Well!
Good God! What a liberty! Hells bells! Hells teeth! Oh!
It?s just not on! Excuse me! Pardon me! Thank you!
- Expressions of Feelings / Emotional reflex (i.e. anger, degradings, disgust,
resignation, Physical pain, compassion & concern, rejection & disagreement,
indifference & complacency, command/order/request/encouragement)
(anger, degradings)
Rubbish! Nonsense! Stuff and nonsense!
Codswallop! Shame! Tut-tut! Shame on you! Poppycock! Claptrap!
Bloody hell! Christ almighty! For Christs sake! Hell! To hell with it!
God forbid! Not on your life! Not on your nelly! Tell that to the marines! (USA?!)
(disgust)
Ugh! Yuk! Pooh! Phew!
Phew / Pooh are also used when something unpleasant happens i.e.
… Pooh! / Phew! When did you last change your socks?
(resignation)
Oh well! Heigh ho! Ah, what can you do!
(pain)
Ouch! Ow! Ooyah! Ooh!
(compassion & concern)
What a pity! There! There! Never mind!
I?m sorry! Come come! Come now! Bad luck! …
… with special emphasis … Really and truly! Once and for all!
That?s that! Honest! I swear it! Take it from me! Mark my words!
(rejection & disagreement)
Certainly not! No way! Out of the question!
(indifference & complacency)
So what! I don?t care a jot (iota)!
What do I care! I couldn?t care less!
(command/order/request/encouragement)
Hey! Oi! Ssh! / Hush!
(Be)Quiet! Shut up! Pipe down! Leave me alone! Get lost! Get out!
Clear off! Cooee! Mind your own business! Mind your language!
Mind! Look out! Watch out! Hold on! Hurry up! Get a move on!
Get/Put your skates on! Calm down! Keep your cool! Cool it!
Cool down! … also … No harm done! Go on try!
There is of course a whole list of positive expressions like :
- Expressions of Soul, Mental & Emotional & Physical reflexes (recognition
& agreement, when overjoyed/surprised/applauding, greetings & hospitalities)
(recognition & agreement)
OK! (Okay!) Allright! Right on! Well done!
Good! Good enough! Fine! That?s fine! Indeed! Oh yes! Too true!
That?s settled then! I should think so! I see! Cool! Of course!
By all means! Certainly With pleasure! That?s it! Whoo! whoo!
Hoorah! Whoopee! Whoopee! Hear, hear! Bravo!
(when overjoyed/surprised/applauding)
Goodness gracious! Crikey!
Great! Gosh! Golly! Wow! Good lord! Well I never! Really!
Oh! Tremendous! Fantastic! Terrific! Sound! Fancy!
Just fancy that! You don?t say!
(hospitalities)
Don?t mention it! That?s quite alright!
Pardon! I beg your pardon! Pardon me! Pardon me? Sorry! Sorry?
I?m sorry! Thanks! Thank you! Thank you very much!
No thank you! Yes, thank you! Cheers! Cheerio! Ta!
(greetings)
Hello! Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening!
Good night! How do you do! How are you! Bye-bye! Bye! Ta-ta!
Ta-ra! Toodle-oo! See you! … some have even been abbreviated
into an Acronym … one I know comes from the RAF in GB of the 2nd
World War and there after (Alan, please confirm!), it is : TTFN and
means Ta-Ta For Now! … and that is exactly what I have to do now.
So, Jamie(K), I?ve gone overboard with my writing and input again but
I do hope that has helped our readers somewhat!
You will notice that some of these expressions tend to be a bit old fashioned …
… probably about 20% but the rest are pretty valid today in GB.
TTFN.
Best wishes, Bruce.