Date: Sat, 12 Oct 1996 13:53:10 EDT

From: "David A. Johns" daj000[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]FOX.WAY.PEACHNET.EDU

Subject: Bejeebers



At 09:30 AM 10/12/96 -0400, you wrote:



"That's a whole nother problem." was a common saying in our family in

Pittsburgh, PA. It was always used to emphasize that there was a problem,

but in a humorous way. I would not be surprised if a 50's comedian coined

that phrase. Saying "bejeebers" would have gotten me in trouble, but I

don't know why. Edie ecarlson[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]lon.hookup.net



I suspect it's a euphemism for "bejeesus," which I heard a lot growing up in

western Massachusetts: "to beat the bejeesus out of someone," "he was going

faster than billy bejeesus" ("Billy B. Jesus," like "Jesus H. Christ"?),

etc. I wouldn't have dared say it in front of my parents either.



I've also heard "bejabbers," but it sounds Irish to me.



David Johns

Waycross College

Waycross, GA