bejesus

[ bih-jee-zuhs, -jey- ]

/ bɪˈdʒi zəs, -ˈdʒeɪ- /

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interjection

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

noun

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bejesus

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

Words nearby bejesus

Beit Knesset, Beja, bejabbers, Béjart, bejel, bejesus, bejewel, bejewelled, Bekaa, keen about, be, Békésy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bejesus in a sentence

Forrest Gump was about as crimson as they come, and America loved the bejesus out of him.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Rednecks and Their Unjustly Unsung Kin|Allison Glock|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If we did this, we'd be able to tax the bejesus out of everyone doing business here, wherever they happened to be headquartered.
Congress to Grill Apple CEO About Taxes|Megan McArdle|May 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Biting, scratching, beating the bejesus out of one another, bounty hunting.
The NFL’s Hypocritical Outrage Against Bonuses for Injuring Players|Buzz Bissinger|March 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The goal should not be to terrify the bejesus out of the public, lest they scrunch their noses and give up.
Great Weekend Reads|The Daily Beast|February 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Russia continues to drink itself into a stupor, but still the scares the bejesus out of everyone.
Who Stole the Thriller?|Alexander Nazaryan|March 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for bejesus

bejesus

/ (bɪˈdʒeɪzəz) informal /

interjection

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

noun

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

Word Origin for bejesus

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