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

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

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2023

Singer Pink says her son’s COVID-19 experience was “a roller coaster” with symptoms including “all the things that scare the bejesus out of you as a mama.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2021

But from what I’ve seen, especially in the past few weeks, the crews on the ground at the airports are genuinely cleaning the bejesus out of the cabins.

From Slate • Jun. 20, 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