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How to Cuss "Politely"

healthguidance.org

Euphemisms can be used for many purposes, but perhaps none more useful than substituting for swear words.Whether it's "dang" for damn, "bejeezes" for "by Jesus," or "Sam Hill" for hell, there's thousands of choices, many of them devised centuries ago.   This hour, we look at the world of "minced oaths" with our "Word Maven," Patricia O'Conner, author of many language books, including "Woe is I," and "Words Fail Me.'  She blogs about language at Grammarphobia.com.  It's a fun hour, and that's no balderdash, for crying out loud...

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Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa