Have you ever had the bejesus scared out of you? Probably...it's a common phrase. But have you ever wondered what a bejesus was?
Dictionary.com says: An exclamation traditionally attributed to the Irish, used to express surprise or for emphasis.
Um, yeah that was helpful. It does not tell me what a bejesus is and if I have one that can be scared out of me, I want to know what it is.
Further research shows that the origin of bejesus is an alteration of by Jesus. So I can have Jesus scared out of me? Or am I scared by Jesus?
This is one of the few times I have looked into something and not been any wiser for the effort.
Second word of the day: whippersnapper.
This is one, I think, most people understand.
Dictionary.com says: A young and inexperienced person considered to be presumptuous or overconfident.
No surprise. But why does it mean that? Apparently, that's a good question...and there does not seem to be a good answer. I found a number of different answers, but mostly it seems to come down to the fact that the term is archaic.
You'll have to look that one up on your own. I am feeling a little disillusioned at the moment.
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