Bejesus
(used as a mild oath expressing dismay, anger, or the like).
Informal. dickens; devil; deuce:
The conglomerate plans to take that tiny company and expand the bejesus out of it.
Contemporary Examples
Biting, scratching, beating the bejesus out of one another, bounty hunting.
The NFL’s Hypocritical Outrage Against Bonuses for Injuring Players Buzz Bissinger March 4, 2012
If we did this, we’d be able to tax the bejesus out of everyone doing business here, wherever they happened to be headquartered.
Congress to Grill Apple CEO About Taxes Megan McArdle May 20, 2013
The goal should not be to terrify the bejesus out of the public, lest they scrunch their noses and give up.
Great Weekend Reads The Daily Beast February 11, 2011
Russia continues to drink itself into a stupor, but still the scares the bejesus out of everyone.
Who Stole the Thriller? Alexander Nazaryan March 21, 2010
Forrest Gump was about as crimson as they come, and America loved the bejesus out of him.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Rednecks and Their Unjustly Unsung Kin Allison Glock August 22, 2014
interjection
an exclamation of surprise, emphasis, etc, regarded as a characteristic utterance of Irish people
noun
the bejesus, (intensifier) used in such phrases as beat the bejesus out of, scare the bejesus out of, etc
mild expletive, 1908, perhaps from by Jesus. To beat the bejesus out of someone is from 1934.
Read Also:
- Bejewel
to adorn with or as if with jewels. Historical Examples I am going to bejewel my house with books and then I am going to live. The Jucklins Opie Read verb -els, -elling, -elled (US) -els, -eling, -eled (transitive) to decorate with or as if with jewels v. 1550s, from be- + jewel. Related: Bejeweled.
- Belabor
to explain, worry about, or work at (something) repeatedly or more than is necessary: He kept belaboring the point long after we had agreed. to assail persistently, as with scorn or ridicule: a book that belabors the provincialism of his contemporaries. to beat vigorously; ply with heavy blows. Obsolete. to labor at. Contemporary Examples To […]
- Befuddle
to confuse, as with glib statements or arguments: politicians befuddling the public with campaign promises. to make stupidly drunk. Contemporary Examples I suspect this will buoy liberal spirits, but anger the right and befuddle the independents. Daily Beast Contributors Weigh In on Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Address January 24, 2012 Historical Examples It […]
- Belaud
to praise excessively. Historical Examples I cannot understand those folk who sniff at the English music-hall and belaud the Parisian shows. Nights in London Thomas Burke As may be imagined, I defended peace in the one, and did my best to belaud his Excellency in the other. The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi; Volume the […]
- Belay
Nautical. to fasten (a rope) by winding around a pin or short rod inserted in a holder so that both ends of the rod are clear. Mountain Climbing. to secure (a person) by attaching to one end of a rope. to secure (a rope) by attaching to a person or to an object offering stable […]