Jesus Harold Christ

English

Etymology

Unknown or disputed. Likely a variant of Jesus H. Christ, from the Christogram IHS, an abbreviation of Ancient Greek Ιησούς (Iēsoús) Χρῑστός (Khrīstós, “Jesus Christ”). An alternate theory speculates that Harold is a mishearing of hallowed in the Lord's Prayer: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” A third theory is that the middle name is arbitrary, used to mark the difference between profane and sacred invocations of Jesus Christ.

Interjection

Jesus Harold Christ

1. (US, potentially offensive) An expression of surprise, contempt, outrage, disgust, boredom, frustration.
   • 2007, David Thewlis, The Late Hector Kipling, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN, page 304:

     Since, as I mentioned, my arse is intact, I meditate first upon the pain in my balls. Jesus Harold Christ! I wonder if Monger's got some morphine kicking about. I wouldn't put it past him.

Usage notes

• Potentially offensive to devout Christians, for uttering the Lord's name in vain.

Synonyms

• Jesus H. Christ

References

• Roger Smith (1994) “The H of Jesus H. Christ”, in American Speech, volume 69, →DOI, pages 331-335