bejesus

American  

[bih-jee-zuhs, -jey-] / bɪˈdʒi zəs, -ˈdʒeɪ- /

interjection

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

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noun

1. Informal. dickens; devil; deuce.

   The conglomerate plans to take that tiny company and expand the bejesus out of it.

bejesus British  

/ bɪˈdʒeɪzəz /

interjection

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

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noun

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

Etymology

Origin of bejesus

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

Example Sentences

Rhonda J. Soikowski directs and Ayako Okano provides music for this trio as they tackle more than 50 characters in this story about ghosts who haunt the bejesus out of a greedy business owner.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 4, 2023

Documentaries on ecological crises often begin by scaring the bejesus out of viewers before adding a note of tempered optimism.

From New York Times • Oct. 26, 2023

"I'm hopefully going to be me and annoying the bejesus out of you for a long time."

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2023

It was like 100 degrees—hot but not the kind of number that would just scare the bejesus out of you immediately.

From Slate • Jul. 12, 2023

Another trick to scare the bejesus out of Barry and Jay.

From "I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005" by Lauren Tarshis