need to replace the phrase *omg* . . . with what?!

[doubledutch]

don't laugh. i say 'oh my god' about a thousand times a day. i'd like to replace it with something else, preferably with something other than 'jesus christ'. which would only make sense, like, 1/3 of the time anyway!

i don't know if i think it's "bad" but it's offensive to some and therefore rude, so . . . suggestions?

[sunnysandiegan]

I don't know how much better it is, but I just say, "Oh My!"
If the need for something longer crops up, I say, "Oh my goodness!"

Best wishes! Habits can be challenging to break, but you can do it!

[LionTigerBear]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan

I don't know how much better it is, but I just say, "Oh My!"
If the need for something longer crops up, I say, "Oh my goodness!"

: It makes me sound like a mom!

[mysticmomma]

heavens to mergatroid!

[lyterae]

My s-i-l says "Oh my word!"

[philomom]

I love the Bewitched version... "oh my stars!"

[jjawm]

I'm in the bad habit of saying "Oh my gosh" which makes me sound like a brady-buncher.

[mysticmomma]

jimminy cricket!

[superstella]

My XMIL is/was very offended by this expression, and she always says "Oh my word!"

[EnviroBecca]

I have a friend who's fond of profanity but never ever takes the name of the Lord in vain. "There's no commandment that you can't say f**k," he says. My son picked up, "Omigod!" at preschool and said it in front of this friend, who immediately offered a bunch of alternatives:
"Oh, man!"
"Gosh!"
"Oh my goodness!"
"Gee whillikers!"
"Ratzafratz!"
"Awesome!"
"Yikes!"
"Leapin' lizards!"
"Cowabunga!"
"Duuude!"
...depends on what era you want to sound like, and whether you mean, "I can't believe it!" or "This is great!" or "I'm terrified!" or "Ouch!" or what.

"Oh my word!"

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God," so is this really any different from "Oh my God!"

[doubledutch]

mysticmomma, you crack me up! land sake's!

becca, that reminds me of maya angelou being punished for saying "by the way" . . .

maybe i don't need to replace it with anything. maybe i just don't say it?

(btw, i'm working on the other stuff too. the other day i restrained myself enough to say "what the eff, that effing hurt" when ds bit me. instead of, you know, the actual f-word. not exactly "no biting, that hurts mama." but an improvement, nonetheless.)

[Viola]

Originally Posted by EnviroBecca

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God," so is this really any different from "Oh my God!"

I was actually thinking that, but then I thought maybe she meant her own word. Like goodness, you could mean your own goodness and not Goodness. And oh my heavens, you could mean the sky and not like, Heaven. Of course, you could make the same argument for god, it's just a little g god not a Supreme Being god. Or you could say, "Oh my dog!" ROFL.

I do end up saying oh my gosh often times. So what is gosh? Is it from Land of Goshen? Is it a corruption of the word god?

[paquerette]

Good Gravy! For more, Good Gravy on a Biscuit!

...you may find yourself craving diner breakfast, though.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by philomom

I love the Bewitched version... "oh my stars!"

That's what I say. I didn't know it was a Bewitched thing though ... I've just always thought it makes me sound like a little old lady.

[TanyaS]

Try "Wow!"

[clovermom]

We now say "oh my peas!" curtesy of the PBS kids show SuperWhy.

[eilonwy]

I was taught that the word "awesome" had a particular meaning, so I never used that as an expletive.

That said, my first thought was to replace it with "holy crap." :

[kapatasana]

The minister who married my DH and I used to always say "oh my word!" so I always associate that with ministers.

Didn't DJ on full house used to say "Oh mylanta"? I like that.

[Tradd]

I often use "Oy vey!"

[TzippityDoulah]

Originally Posted by kapatasana

Didn't DJ on full house used to say "Oh mylanta"? I like that.

"oh mylanta!" I totally remember that!!!!