Jesus H. Christ

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

Extension of Jesus Christ with a fantastical middle initial, perhaps derived from a reading of ΙΗΣ, a Greek-alphabet abbreviation for Jesus (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ) as three initials in Latin letters. See "Christogram" at Wikipedia.

The expression dates to at least the late 19th century (although according to Mark Twain, it was already old in 1850) (Smith 1994, p. 332).

Interjection

Jesus H. Christ

1. (chiefly a stronger form) Jesus Christ.
   • (Can we date this quote?) "Holy Shit," "Man Walks on Fucking Moon," The Onion, Late Edition, front page

     I am talking to you from the goddamned fucking moon. Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket.

   • 1980 June, Dan Aykroyd and John Landis, The Blues Brothers, Universal Pictures

     Jake: Yes! Yes! Jesus H. tap-dancing Christ, I have seen the light!

   • 1985, Andrew Bergman, Fletch, Universal Pictures

     Stanton Boyd: Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick. First of all... Alan Stanwyk does not own one single share of stock.

   • 2004, James McManus, Positively Fifth Street [1]

     “I’m gonna get outta their way,” he mutters, then snorts without mirth. “All I had were jacks.” We believe him, of course. What are jacks, after all, once Beelzebub and Jesus H. Christ get involved?

   • 2004, Marsha Moyer, The Last of the Honky-tonk Angels. [2]

     “Jesus H. Christ on the cross,” he said. He caught my reflected gaze and held it. “How long have you known about this?”

Synonyms

• Jesus Harold Christ
• Jesus Herbert Walker Christ

Derived terms

• Jesus H. Christ on a raft

Quotations

• For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.

References

• Cassidy, Frederick G., 1995. "More on Jesus H. Christ," American Speech 70:370.
• Smith, Roger, 1994. "The H of Jesus H. Christ," American Speech 69:331-335.
• Why do folks say "Jesus H. Christ"?, from The Straight Dope
• Explanation from WorldWideWords by Michael Quinion
• Harold be thy name!