Jesus Harold Christ
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Unknown or disputed. Likely a variant of Jesus H. Christ, from the Christogram IHS, an abbreviation of Ancient Greek Ιησούς (Iēsoús) Χρῑστός (Khrīstós, “Jesus Christ”). An alternate theory speculates that Harold is a mishearing of hallowed in the Lord's Prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” A third theory is that the middle name is arbitrary, used to mark the difference between profane and sacred invocations of Jesus Christ.
Interjection[edit]
- (US, potentially offensive) An expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, boredom, frustration.
- 2007, David Thewlis, The Late Hector Kipling, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN, page 304:
- Since, as I mentioned, my arse is intact, I meditate first upon the pain in my balls. Jesus Harold Christ! I wonder if Monger's got some morphine kicking about. I wouldn't put it past him.
Usage notes[edit]
- Potentially offensive to devout Christians, for uttering the Lord's name in vain.
Synonyms[edit]
References[edit]
- Roger Smith (1994) “The H of Jesus H. Christ”, in American Speech, volume 69, , pages 331-335