bejesus

[ bih-jee-zuhs, -jey- ]

interjection
  1. (used as a mild oath expressing dismay, anger, or the like.)

noun
  1. Informal. dickens; devil; deuce: The conglomerate plans to take that tiny company and expand the bejesus out of it.

Origin of bejesus

1
First recorded in 1905–10; alteration of oath by Jesus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for bejesus

bejesus

/ (bɪˈdʒeɪzəz) informal /


interjection
  1. an exclamation of surprise, emphasis, etc, regarded as a characteristic utterance of Irish people

noun
  1. the bejesus (intensifier) used in such phrases as beat the bejesus out of, scare the bejesus out of, etc

Origin of bejesus

1
C20: alteration of by Jesus!

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012