bejesus

American  

[bih-jee-zuhs, -jay-] / 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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bejesus

“Concerned citizens are worried. We ought to try to help them, not scare the bejesus out of them.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

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

"There's a really wicked streak in me that says, 'should I go and book a test, turn up and scare the bejesus out of them when they do it?"

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2023

The tape was made in 2003, seven years after the South African nuclear accident scared the bejesus out of the major superpowers.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 13, 2020

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

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

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