We've all noticed an increase in the use of swear words. Can you trace the origins of some of your favourites.

Question

Answer 1

Most of the swear words that I know originated from my father.

Comments

I can't say the same. He was a cranky old bugger but rarely swore. Didn't think it was polite. "Jesus wept!" was his favourite expletive.

Answer 2

I don't know any swear words! 

Comments

Good grief! How do you ever manage to express yourself? 

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@ Didge:

I only think good and pure thoughts. 

Answer 3

Just picked up!

Comments

Kind of self-propagating  

It's interesting to see the kind of swear words the crop up in different parts of the world. German seems to have many excremental or anal swear words while Russian swearing is strongly sexual. We who speak English are much more versatile. 

Answer 4

The ones I didn't learn from my Father and brother? I heard in the service ! Not that I use them any more but it looks like some got passed to my son but I blame the Marines for that!  

Comments

We pick them up by osmosis. I picked up most of mine from the kids at school. Back in the 1940s and 50s even innocent words like "bloody" weren't acceptable in mixed company. 

Answer 5

I learned some from the old man but he's right ! I learned words in the Marines that I never knew existed. I'm learning to control them better as I don't want my daughters picking them up from me !  

Comments

This is never going to happen to your kids, Hit Man...

Answer 6

 Yeah I can trace the origins of every swear word I'v ever heard in my life.... My mother!!! that woman could and still does cuss like $#@!&+_$ sailor.

Comments

You're not alone in that.  

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No, she's not alone at all. Hitman there has quite the mouth ! Even worse than mine !!!!

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They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Rooster. Sometimes it gets to be even more colourful than the original apple.