Does it originate from a particular language,or is it just made up?
2006-10-06 16:05:06 · 3 answers · asked by zotgtrplyr 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The word is a purely English invention.
"Cripes" is used as an alternative for "Christ", used to avoid using the latter word as a profanity..
Such expressions are called "minced oaths". Typically people are avoiding uttering some profanity (esp. a religious term) by either substituting another word that sounds partially like the one avoided (esp. by beginning the same way and/or by rhyming). The substitute words may be real or completely made up.
http://www.takeourword.com/Issue087.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minced_oaths
A list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minced_oaths#Historical_examples
2006-10-07 03:30:00 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was told as a child that people would cus and say "Jesus Christ" this was very offensive to Christians, thus the words,
Geez and cripes!
2006-10-06 23:14:47 · answer #2 · answered by easinclair 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cripes
/krips/
• exclamation informal, dated an expression of surprise.
— ORIGIN euphemism for CHRIST.
2006-10-06 23:14:03 · answer #3 · answered by sharkscue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋