minced oaths 1: jiminy cricket




Here's what's intriguing about Jiminy Cricket and "jiminy cricket."

The phrase originated as a way of avoiding saying "Jesus Christ!" as an exclamation. (Same with "Jeepers Creepers.") 

So then when Disney needed to give a name to the talking cricket from Pinocchio, they somehow landed on "Jiminy Cricket," a euphemistic exclamation. 

What's great about this is that Jiminy Cricket is explicitly the still small voice of conscience for Pinocchio. He's the voice that tells you what, in fact, Jesus Christ might tell you. 

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