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

"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

‘Urban Death: Tour of Terror’ The twisted minds at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group are ready to scare the bejesus out of you with kid-friendly and adults-only versions of its annual haunted theater attraction.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2022

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