bejesus
nounEtymology A reduced form of by Jesus.
1
Colloquial, Euphemistic, With out of Used for emphasis, similar to crap, shit or wits.
- The bear scared the bejesus out of us.
- He said you confused the bejesus out of him.
4 more examples
- This old lady just completely slapped the bejesus out of him.
- That screaming, flaming skull in the closet totally scared the bejesus out of me!
- But they give me clothes for my body, and food for my belly, and tonight, I'm so happy, I could beat the living bejesus outa this goddam drum.1949, Richard Harrity, Hope is the Thing with Feathers, Dramatists Play Service, page 18:
- Nixon: You see what I mean? We can’t take it. Kissinger: I agree. That’s why we’ve got to blast— Nixon: That’s right. Kissinger: —the living bejeezus out of North Vietnam. We will gain nothing for restraint—. Nixon: That’s right1972, Henry Kissinger, Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Office of the Historian
- Derived terms
- the bejesus, the bejesus out of