In the movie “Napoleon Dynamite,” the lead character, portrayed by Jon Heder, frequentlyexclaims”goodness” when upset. Set in rural Idaho, this expression is part of the movie’s unique, nostalgic setting.
That’s roughly how most Americans view “clean swears” today — words that are rustic, traditional, and charming. If you come across one of these terms, it likely means you’re in one of the few cultural havens where language norms still discourage the use of vulgar language.
“Always refer to the names of God and Jesus Christ with honor and dignity,” stated anearlier versionof “For the Strength of Youth” published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “If you have formed the practice of using profanity, you can stop it.”
Other communities besides Utah’s main religion also offer similar support. The Amish, found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, avoid using profanity, as do conservative Mennonites, Holiness churches, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and devout Muslim and Jewish groups.
Ancient ‘mild oaths’
“Clean curses” or “gentle oaths” are not a recent development. Cuneiform documents from ancient Mesopotamia (circa 2000–1000 B.C.) reveal modified expressions of divinity that were typically used in that society for swearing, probably to prevent profanity.
Although many people in ancient Greece invoked the gods, Socrates and figures from Aristophanes’ plays are known to have said “by the dog!” as a respectful alternative to mentioning Zeus — similar to how Romans later used “by Jove” instead of “by Jupiter.”
The God of Israel prohibitedusing the Lord’s name in an improper way” in the Book of Exodus, which resulted in more gentle alternatives later on, like “by Heaven,” “by the Temple,” or “by Jerusalem.
‘Swear not at all’
But many centuries later, Jesus Christ wouldteachhis first followers, “I tell you, do not swear at all; nor by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.”
Jesus said: “Let your words be simply ‘Yes, yes;’ and ‘No, no;’ for anything beyond that comes from evil.”
Even though “Heavens!” and “Good Heavens!” remained in use among later Christian communities, other early figures emphasized Jesus’ worries. Jameswritesin the New Testament it is stated, “above all things, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath.” Paullikewise tellsthe citizens of Ephesus, “Let no harmful speech come from your mouth, but what is beneficial.”
Early ‘clean swears’
Evidence from old French and Middle English texts as early as the 12th and 13th centuries shows the use of softened, polite swear words like “parbleu!” (meaning “good Lord” in French) instead of “par Dieu” (“by God”). Over the following centuries, there was a surge in colorful, mild oaths in early modern Europe, such as “marry!” (“by the Virgin Mary”), “gadzooks,” and “zounds” — which referred to “God’s hooks” (nails) and “God’s wounds,” connected to Christ’s crucifixion.
In 1757, as noted in the Oxford English Dictionary, “gosh” was first used as a replacement for “God” in an English play written by Samuel Foote. The line included was: “Then there’s the highest — and lowest, by Gosh.”
A wide range of different forms of the word followed,includinggosh-almighty, gosh darn, and oh my goodness. In 1775, the word “golly” was noted in Gilbert White’s journal (another way to say “God”), with “gee whiz!” and “gee” as milder versions of “Jesus” notcoming until a century later.
But a few years after “golly,” we find the earliest record of “darn!” in a 1781 note from Pennsylvania Magazine: “In New England, profane swearing … uses … substitutions like darn it, for d—n it.”
“Drat it! drat it! drat it!” a character alsoexclaimsIn the 1874 play, “The Arcadian Club.” “Drat” and “dang” were additional, later forms, with Richard Cumberland’s 1813 work “Lovers’ Resolutions” containing the following line in Act 1: “Dang it, don’t you spare him — A cross-grained cranky toad as ever crawl’d.”
All of these were mild substitutes for “damn,” which was typically avoided as a strong curse referring to eternal punishment. This restriction remained in American films until “Gone with the Wind.”broke the cultural norm in 1939.
Clean swears, next generation
Other nations developed their own expressions, with examples found in Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Norse, and numerous other cultures. Ancient Chinese texts frequently employ metaphorical substitutes, such as “turtle” or “dog” to represent strong language. Certain Islamic communities utilized milder, harmless exclamations like “Ya Latif” (“O Gentle One”) or “Wallah” (“by God”). Meanwhile, “crikey” emerged in Australia in 1826 as an alternative to “Christ.”
“Shucks!” was first recorded in 1847 and later appeared in Mark Twain’s works, describing worthless corn husks and conveying the meaning of “that’s nothing” or “nonsense.” While not directly linked to a curse, some academics suggest that “shucks” and “aw, shucks” served as a less intense substitute for stronger language.
” Heck” came into use around 1865, almost a century after “gosh” and “darn” — because of the Victorian era’s disapproval of “hell” in formal settings, as noted by the Online Etymology Dictionary.
“Oh my goodness” following the tradition of “oh my gosh” and “oh my goodness,” among others. “Oh my heck” is now appearing.on advertisementsin online influencer videos and with conservative commentatorsGlenn Beck.
The most recent version of mild expletives
Early mentions of the word “shoot” can be found in Sinclair Lewis’s 1922 work “Babbitt,” where it appears as “Oh shoot, that’s just because you never tried a sedan.” It gained broader usage by 1934 as a substitute for stronger expletives.
“Scrud” appears in mid-to-late 20th century American slang (particularly among children and teenagers), often seen as a variation of “crud” and used as a child-friendly substitute for more offensive terms.
“Jeepers” and “jeepers creepers” entered intousageIn 1929, Walter D. Edmonds’ novel “Rome Haul” and Henry Fonda’s 1935 film adaptation, “The Farmer Takes a Wife,” featured a particular phrase. The 1940 film “Pinocchio” popularized another mild oath, “Jiminy Cricket,” which, similar to “jeepers creepers,” alters the sounds while maintaining the rhythm of “Jesus Christ.”
Oliver Goldsmith had describeda character in his 1766 novel “The Vicar of Wakefield”who ‘at the end of every sentence would shout Fudge!’ However, this was not seen as a replacement for stronger words at the time (unlike ‘frig’ or ‘frigging,’ which had been used in English as early as Thomas Middleton’s plays in the 16th century).
This has shifted in recent decades due to children’s media, such as thescenefrom the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story,” where Ralphie spills nuts and audiences hear him say “fudge” as he gets his mouth washed out for using “the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words.”
“Flipping” is used in British English as a euphemistic curse in a work byD.H. Lawrencein 1911. “Oh, gosh!” wasusedin Peter Shaffer’s 1967 play “Black Comedy.”
“Freaking” started to be usedfrom the 1920s to the 1950s, and gained wider usage in the 1960s–70s, as it could be spoken on radio/TV without facing censorship. Some scholars haveplacedfetching” as a regional term that emerged in the early 1990s among Utahns “as part of the fudge, freaking, flipping group of mild expletives.
Modern wariness of careless vows
The Quakers, also known as members of the Religious Society of Friends, have emphasized the use of straightforward language and the absence of oaths since their establishment in the 17th century. This has led them to frequently decline taking oaths in court, opting instead for a basic declaration of honesty.
Shaun Marksbury, a minister in Colorado,arguedChrist was not making a general statement about all oaths, but rather focusing on “hypocritical or deceptive oaths.” He references commentator J. Ronald Blue, who said, “For those who genuinely show the perseverance and patience expected of believers, there is no need to use an oath… their word is reliable.”
Promises are intended to reinforce the truth, yet they often end up diminishing it.writesChristian writer Ray Fowler—indicating that the use of words with a religious tone in ancient times, without explicitly referencing God, “could lead others to believe you were sincere and yet manage to break your promise.”
Your speech holds strength. Let it be used for positive purposes,summarizesthe 2025 “For the Strength of Youth” from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Ensure your speech demonstrates affection for God and fellow individuals.”
