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

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’s just that you’ve intercut it to the bejesus with 6 million other bits.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 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

“Armpit scares the bejesus out of me. But now I told you the truth, so everything’s cool, right?”

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar