A mild exclamation expressing surprise, frustration, or mild irritation; a euphemism for a stronger word.
19th-century euphemism derived from 'Christ,' modified to avoid blasphemy. Part of a family of G-rated substitutes like 'jiminy,' 'gosh,' and 'golly,' all attempting to preserve the emotional impact without offending religious sensibilities.
Language creates 'swear word substitutes' to let people express frustration without social punishment—'cripes' shows how Victorian speakers invented a whole vocabulary of pseudo-curses that were emotionally satisfying but religiously safe.
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