Home » Segments » Jeezum Pete and Related Expressions

Jeezum Pete and Related Expressions

Ellen in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, wonders about the origin of the exclamation jeezum pete! It’s a minced oath — that is, a way of avoiding saying “Jesus Christ!” most likely derived by combining it with St. Pete. There are dozens of similar euphemized exclamations, including gee whillikers, gee willikins, jumping jehosaphat, Judas Priest, jeepers, jiminy, jiminy crickets, jiminy christmas, and more. This is part of a complete episode.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 comment
  • So I was reading a comic and saw “jeezum pete” and immediately thought, wait, is that how it’s said? I was pretty sure my family always said “jeezam peas,” so I had to google it, and the first thing that popped up was a reference to an episode where it was discussed, and somehow I missed it. I’m Jamaican, and that’s probably why I remember it as “jeezam pease.” Islanders love to add some flair wherever we can.

More from this show

What Makes A Great Book Opening Line?

What makes a great first line of a book? How do the best authors put together an initial sentence that draws you in and makes you want to read more? We’re talking about the openings of such novels as George Orwell’s 1984...

Slip Someone a Mickey

To slip someone a mickey means to doctor a drink and give it to an unwitting recipient. The phrase goes back to Mickey Finn of the Lone Star Saloon in Chicago, who in the late 19th century was notorious for drugging certain customers and relieving...