Languages and Linguistics

raccoon

(31,514 posts) Mon May 22, 2023, 06:15 AM May 2023

Anyone heard the expression "be the Jesus" used?

I am reading a book called KIT‘S LAW about a family living In a Newfoundland outport in the 1950s or 60s. One of the characters keeps using this expression.

One example:

“Be the Jesus, Josie, if you ever gets up and runs out of church again… “

9 replies

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Anyone heard the expression "be the Jesus" used? (Original Post) raccoon May 2023 OP

try DARE dictionary. if not found, you can submit a citation Tetrachloride May 2023 #1

Finally found in Amazon, I guessed the words raccoon May 2023 #2

Univ of Wisconsin - Dictionary of American Regional English Tetrachloride May 2023 #3

Newfoundland is in Canada. It has never been American. . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2023 #6

North American? N/T odins folly May 2023 #8

I've (occasionally) heard stopdiggin May 2023 #4

Yeah, that's what my uncle used to say, gab13by13 May 2023 #7

That's what I think it is. By the Jesus is Anglo/Irish . yorkster May 2023 #9

I've often heard "bejesus" (without "the"), as in "scared the bejesus Tanuki May 2023 #5

Tetrachloride

(8,482 posts)

1. try DARE dictionary. if not found, you can submit a citation

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon May 22, 2023, 06:19 AM

May 2023

raccoon

(31,514 posts)

2. Finally found in Amazon, I guessed the words

Reply to Tetrachloride (Reply #1)

Mon May 22, 2023, 06:23 AM

May 2023

Regional English

Tetrachloride

(8,482 posts)

3. Univ of Wisconsin - Dictionary of American Regional English

Reply to raccoon (Reply #2)

Mon May 22, 2023, 06:40 AM

May 2023

https://www.daredictionary.com/

reference librarians likely know it

online search is possible

Bernardo de La Paz

(51,248 posts)

6. Newfoundland is in Canada. It has never been American. . . . . nt

Reply to Tetrachloride (Reply #3)

Mon May 22, 2023, 07:58 AM

May 2023

odins folly

(279 posts)

8. North American? N/T

Reply to Bernardo de La Paz (Reply #6)

Mon May 22, 2023, 08:47 AM

May 2023

stopdiggin

(13,005 posts)

4. I've (occasionally) heard

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon May 22, 2023, 07:05 AM

May 2023

"By the Jesus" - with an inflection and meaning (expostulation) that seems quite similar. Perhaps an author that is trying on a dialect?

gab13by13

(25,400 posts)

7. Yeah, that's what my uncle used to say,

Reply to stopdiggin (Reply #4)

Mon May 22, 2023, 08:36 AM

May 2023

it's By The Jesus.

Another old one is "Ostia" which means host which equals Jesus Christ. Not sure about my "Italian", I think, spelling.

Swear words.

yorkster

(2,515 posts)

9. That's what I think it is. By the Jesus is Anglo/Irish .

Reply to stopdiggin (Reply #4)

Mon May 22, 2023, 09:34 AM

May 2023

Bejeesus has a similar origin. I once had the luck to go to Newfoundland for a week. The eastern part of the Island is heavily populated with people of Irish descent and to my ear it sounded like being in Galway.

Another common NFLD expression is "I's the B'y" or I'm the guy, I'm the man. Pronounced like eyes the buy.
Interesting place, would love to see it again.

Tanuki

(15,396 posts)

5. I've often heard "bejesus" (without "the"), as in "scared the bejesus

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Mon May 22, 2023, 07:24 AM

May 2023

out of him" or "Bejesus, Mike, what were you thinking?"

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