Christian Study - Slang

Slang

2 Tim 2:15-16

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. (NKJ)

The first commandment of the decalogue was designed to protect the sanctity- of God's being; the second forbade man to approach him through some human device; and, the third ("Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain: for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain"), formulated to guarantee respect and reverence for his name. (Deut. 5:7-11.)

One is profane who uses sacred things in an irreverent and a blasphemous manner. The word vain, in the third commandment is translated from a word which means in a light, flippant, and contemptuous fashion. It is of serious consequence that many members of the church have allowed to creep into their words and phrases the use of which amounts to profanity. Others who would not dare to use the holy names, God, Christ, Jesus, Hell, heavens interjections ("An ejaculatory word or form of speech usually thrown in without grammatical connection" Webster), and for emphasis, will, nevertheless, use euphemisms (the substitution of a word or phrase less offensive or objectionable), the derivation of which goes back to one of the foregoing forms. Were those who thus do aware of the origin of many of these common by-words they would be shocked! It is therefore important that we obtain a clear conception of the significance of such words and phrases and avoid all which even indirectly border on the profane.

(1) Gee Whiz.

Gee is an euphemistic contraction of the name Jesus. It is slang, and has no proper use in our language. It is used as an interjection and to express surprise. It is, in effect, to say: Jesus! ( Webster's New World Dictionary.) Webster's Unabridged Dictionary says that it is "A minced form of Jesus, used in mild oaths."

Whiz is slang for anything excellent, "a sometimes applied to a clever person or thing of excellence. Something or someone of exceptional ability or quality." The words Gee Whiz! are, therefore an oath in which Jesus and something extraordinary or unusual are joined. Whiz originally signified something of a humming or whirring sound, and then anything unusual or exceptional. A whizzer denotes in slang that which is above and beyond the ordinary.

(2) Gosh.

This, too, is an interjection and used euphemistically, and for God. It is an exclamatory slang expression indicating surprise. The Century Dictionary says that it is "A minced form of God: often used interjectionally a mild oath." Webster's Unabridged Dictionary says that it is "a softened form of God, used as a mild oath." It is occasionally used in hyphenated fashion such as Gosh-awful, which means, literally, God-awful. In this form it is often used as an adjective and euphemistically.

(3) Gad, Egad, etc.

These words are interjections, and are used euphemistically for the word God in mild oaths. They indicate surprise, disgust, dismay, and similar emotions; and are ejaculatory in character. Gee, Gosh, Gad, Egad, and similar forms are used synonymously. They are often joined with other terms for further emphasis, such as Gee Whilikins, Gad Bodkins, of which usage, the Unabridged Dictionary says, "A softened form of the word God as used in mild oaths of which the second element is often a corruption or made up word."

(4) Golly.

This word, of extremely common use, is described by the New World Dictionary as "an exclamation of surprise, a euphemism for God. It is often used in conjunction with the word 'by,' i.e., By golly!" sometimes as a noun and at other times as an interjection, for the word God.

(5) Goodgracious! Good grief! My goodness! etc.

These are all mild oaths, where the word good or goodness, is used euphemistically for God. (See Webster's New World Dictionary.) There are many forms of this usage, such as Goodness sake! Goodness knows! Thank goodness! all ejaculatory and exclamatory expressions in reference to the goodness of God, but used slangily and for emphasis. One who thus speaks calls God to witness to the statement with which the oath is associated. "In goodness knows who it could have been, it means God only knows and I do not; in goodness knows it wasn't I, it means God knows it and could confirm my statement." (American English Usage, Nicholson.)

(6) Heavens! Good Heavens! For Heaven's Sake!

Are all statements of exclamatory character, in which the heavens are called to witness to the truth of the statement made, or to support the affirmation. All such expressions when used as by-words, as slang, and in flippant, frivolous fashion, violate our Lord's injunction: "Swear not at all: neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King." (Matt. 5:34.)

We are not to suppose that it is wrong to use the various names of God in our conversation when such usage is reverent, respectful and sober. We have, indeed, numerous instances of such usage in the scriptures. (Cf. God forbid, If God wills, The Lord grant mercy, etc.) The Jews regarded the name of Jehovah as ineffable and to this day.

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