“Jesus Christ!” is an expletive interjection expressing anger, surprise or frustration. “Jesus Murphy!” is a variation of this that has been popularly used in Canada.
“Jesus Murphy!” was printed in the book Take Away the Darkness (1944) by Edward Thompson. “Jesus Murphy!” was printed several times in the book Anything Could Happen! (1961) by Phyllis Brett Young. “Jesus Murphy” was printed in Why Rock the Boat: A Novel (1961) by William Weintraub.
“Jesus, Murphy and Joseph!” was printed in the book The Cape Breton Collection (1984) by Lesley Choyce. “‘JESUS MURPHY AND JOSEPH!’ #shitmymomsays” was posted on Twitter by Jessie Callander on December 18, 2011. “‘Jesus Murphy’ is (or was) common across Canada. Wouldn’t be surprised if a version of it spread to the mid-west from there. Of course, could also come from somewhere else, Ireland for example, in both cases. There’s an apocryphal story that it was the name of a prohibition-era travelling bible salesman who hid whiskey under his bibles, but wouldn’t put too much stock in it. ETA: I suspect it’s more likely a euphemism for ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph’ than for ‘Jesus Christ’” was posted on Reddit—Etymology on December 18, 2016. “Jesus Murphy and Joseph, has the hockey world gone mad?” was posted on Twitter by Dean Cutler on April 16, 2018.
“Jesus H. Christ!” is a popular exclamation, and there is also “Jesus H. Murphy!” “Lizz ‘Jesus H. Murphy, do you got to tell folks everything?’ Braver” was posted on the newsgroup rec.music.beatles on August 28, 1996. “Jesus H. Murphy! he would yell at the bonnie colleen on the screen” was printed in the Vancouver (BC) Sun on March 11, 2000. “It’s also worth noting that Jesus sometimes has a different last name in Atlantic Canada than he does in the right of the world. Instead of Jesus Christ, he’s Jesus Murphy. Sometimes Jesus H. Murphy. I do not know what the H stands for” was posted on Twitter by Janel Comeau on July 23, 2021.
“JESUS FUCKING MURPHY!” was posted on the newsgroup comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic on January 23, 1998. “Overheard this morning: Jesus fucking Murphy! I’m sick of it!” was posted on Twitter by dabydeen on May 20, 2009. “Jesus fuckin Murphy these people r fucked in the head” was posted on Twitter by Luc Gareau on June 19, 2009. “Turnovers MAN ! Jesus Frickin Murphy !” was posted on Twitter by Taigz Da Crypthot💰🌴 on August 12, 2012. “Jesus friggin’ Murphy. What the hell is that thing, anyway?” was posted on Twitter by GeorginaStorms on September 2, 2016. “What a complete asshole this man is Jesus flipping Murphy” was posted on Twitter by Maggie May on July 1, 2017.
Wikipedia: Jesus H. Christ
Jesus H. Christ is an expletive interjection that refers to the Christian religious figure of Jesus Christ. It is typically uttered in anger, surprise, or frustration, though sometimes also with humorous intent. The expressions “Christ”, “Jesus”, and “Jesus Christ” are also used as exclamations or expletives by some individuals in certain parts of the English-speaking world, such as Ireland, and more recently, the United States, though it is uncommon in other parts of the world with large numbers of English speakers, such as India.
Hosertalk.com
Jesus Murphy
A common exclamation, sometimes used as “Jesus H. Murphy”.
Google Books
Take Away the Darkness
By Edward Thompson
Hollywood, CA: Murray & Gee, Inc.
1944
Pg. 191:
“Jesus Murphy!”
Google Books
Dial: An Annual of Fiction
Issues 1-4
1959 (This Google Books date may be incorrect.—ed.)
Pg. 123
“Jesus Murphy, you are sick,” Uncle Hughie said.
Google Books
Anything Could Happen!
By Phyllis Brett Young
Toronto, ON: Longmans Green
1961
Pg. 47:
Then, rousing himself sufficiently to look at us, he added, “Jesus Murphy! You kids don’t look human.”
Pg. 63:
“Jesus Murphy!”
Pg. 184:
“Jesus Murphy!”
Google Books
Why Rock the Boat:
A Novel
By William Weintraub
Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart
1961
Pg. 168:
“Jesus Murphy, all I have to do is take one look at this bumf to see that it’s absolutely useless.“
Google Books
All the Gods and Goddesses
By Kay Martin
New York, NY: Putnam
1963
Pg. 206:
“Jesus Murphy! Will you look at that damned thing!”
Google Books
Autogenic Therapy
By Wolfgang Luthe (editor)
New York, NY: Grune & Stratton
1969 (This Google Books date may be incorrect.—ed.)
Pg. 115:
Jesus Murphy ... this is tiring ...
Newspapers.com
26 December 1970, Calgary (Alberta) Herald, “What 41-year-old NHL goaltender…” by Alan Walker, Canadian Maazine, pg. 11, col. 3:
“If a goaltender has 50 shots a whole game, he thinks, ‘Jesus Murphy, what happened?’”
(Said by Jacques Plante.—ed.)
Google Books
Munchmeyer:
And Prospero on the Island
By Audrey Callahan Thomas
Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill
1971
Pg. 75:
“Jesus Murphy!” she exclaimed.
Google Books
Working People:
Life in a Downtown City Neighbourhood
By James Lorimer and Myfanwy Phillips
Toronto, ON: J. Lewis & Samuel
1971
Pg. 218:
GEORGE Oh Jesus Murphy, I forgot, I wanted to bring you over something to read.
Googel Books
Conversations with Canadian Novelists
By Silver Donald Cameron
Toronto, ON: Macamillan
1973
Pg. 56:
Jesus Murphy, I’m not a humble man, but one thing I know is the difference between role or label and actuality.
Newspapers.com
12 February 1973, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), “Sabres rattled by Bowman’s stick check on Dryden” by Ted Blackman, pg. 21, col. 1:
“Jesus Murphy, I’m going to check ‘em out.”
(Said by Dave Dryden.—ed.)
Google Books
Breakdown Or Breakthrough:
Self-discovery Through Change
By James C. Paupst and Toni Robinson
Agincourt, ON: Gage Pub.
1980
Pg. XVII
When I pointed out that Murphy wasn’t a swear word, she looked up at me and said, “Sure it is; you know, Jesus Murphy.”
Google Books
The Salvation of Yasch Siemens
By Armin Wiebe
Winnipeg, Manitoba: Turnstone Press
1984
Pg. 140:
And after one time Forscha found Emmanuel sitting with Klaviera all alone behind the school he started to say worse things like “Jesus Murphy!” and “Jesus H. Christ!”
Google Books
The Cape Breton Collection
By Lesley Choyce
Porters Lake, NS: Pottersfield Press
1984
Pg. 15:
“Jesus, Murphy and Joseph!”
Google Groups: rec.music.beatles
$$$ High profits, Great start-up. Low Investment $$$$$
Lizz Braver
Aug 28, 1996, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Lizz “Jesus H. Murphy, do you got to tell folks everything?” Braver
Google Groups: alt.showbiz.gossip
GOP-Party of tolerance?
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Aug 15, 1996, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
Sorry to yell, but Jesus H. Murphy, I’ve never seen such a lame-ass collection of fraidy cats.
Google Groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic
More proof of Bill’s DAI fraud
Perry Quan
Jan 23, 1998, 3:00:00 AM
On Thu, 22 Jan 1998 14:06:41 GMT, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (B P)
wrote:
JESUS FUCKING MURPHY!
Newspapers.com
11 March 2000, Vancouver (BC) Sun, “Wrong kind of Irish” by Matthew Mallon, pg. E5, col. 1:
Jesus H. Murphy! he would yell at the bonnie colleen on the screen.
Google Groups: alt.video.tape-trading
A telephone call from Homosexual Brian Lamb?
CUNTICA
Feb 26, 2008, 12:05:39 PM
I recieved a rather strange telephone call late last night (I traced it back to a Pacific Bell pay telephone at a 7-11 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, U.S.A.) & have transcribed it below:
Ring - ring!
Me: Hello!
Caller: Please, please, please leave me alone!
Me: Who the fuck is this?
Caller: Please leave me alone; I can’t take it anymore, please!
Me; Jesus, fucking murphy!, Is that the homosexual Brian Lamb?
Twitter
Jack
@jack_in_blackk
jesus h. murphy, I have done quite a number on myself, psychologically speaking
2:10 AM · May 8, 2008
Twitter
dabydeen🇨🇦
@dabydeen
Overheard this morning: Jesus fucking Murphy! I’m sick of it!
7:42 AM · May 20, 2009
Twitter
Luc Gareau
@Sandman71
Replying to @chrisavery
@chrisavery RE: PETA That’s fucking ridiculous! A fly is NOT an animal, its an insect. Jesus fuckin Murphy these people r fucked in the head
10:50 AM · Jun 19, 2009
OEN (OpEdNews)
Diary 4/9/2011 at 6:10 PM EDT
Is It Jesus Murphy Or Jesus Christ?
By Christine Geery
In Canada we not only say “eh,” “bloody,” and “bugger,” but we are also in the habit of saying “Jesus Murphy.” Growing up it was just a phrase one got used to. No one felt that it was taking the Lord’s name in vain. It was accepted entirely in every day speech.
Twitter
Jessie Callander
@jessiecallander
“JESUS MURPHY AND JOSEPH!” #shitmymomsays
9:53 PM · Dec 18, 2011
Urban Dictionary
Jesus Murphy
A phrase uttered by Canadians who stub their toes. By replacing “Christ” with “Murphy,” these Canadians manage to avoid hell.
(toe is stubbed) Jesus Murphy!
by FNods February 27, 2012
Twitter
Taigz Da Crypthot💰🌴
@Taigenz
Turnovers MAN ! Jesus Frickin Murphy ! #ScarlettVoice
11:28 AM · Aug 12, 2012
Newspapers.com
12 March 2013, National Post (Toronto, ON), “Dear Diary: Brian Burke” as imagined by Tristin Hopper, pg. A2, col. 4:
Jesus H. W. Murphy do I hate ties.
Twitter
Tristin Hopper
@TristinHopper
“Jesus H. W. Murphy do I hate ties.” - Brian Burke Dear Diary: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/11/brian-burkes-dear-diary-fired-right-when-i-was-in-the-middle-of-the-beginning-of-rebuilding-the-maple-leafs/
@nationalpost
3:37 PM · Jan 13, 2013
Twitter
GeorginaStorms
@Mesocyclonic
@keswickproblems LMAO Jesus friggin’ Murphy. What the hell is that thing, anyway? Hear it, but’ve never seen it.
5:09 PM · Sep 2, 2016
Reddit—Etymology
Posted by u/mandikat December 18, 2016
“Jeepers Murphy!”
I know midwesterners (especially people born around the great depression) who use the phrase “Jeepers Murphy” as an interjection, but I can’t find much usage online, nor can I find any source. Has anyone heard this phrase before, and does anyone have any leads as to where it came from and where it’s primarily used?
COMMENTS
ThereAreSquirrels
“Jesus Murphy” is (or was) common across Canada. Wouldn’t be surprised if a version of it spread to the mid-west from there. Of course, could also come from somewhere else, Ireland for example, in both cases.
There’s an apocryphal story that it was the name of a prohibition-era travelling bible salesman who hid whiskey under his bibles, but wouldn’t put too much stock in it.
ETA: I suspect it’s more likely a euphemism for “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” than for “Jesus Christ”.
Twitter
Maggie May
@totallyFedUp
Replying to @funder
What a complete asshole this man is Jesus flipping Murphy
7:55 PM · Jul 1, 2017 from Fort Worth, TX
Twitter
Dean Cutler
@deancutler
Replying to @MikeInBuffalo
Jesus Murphy and Joseph, has the hockey world gone mad? Is Babcock going to pull off a mask and reveal he’s actually Trump???
11:17 AM · Apr 16, 2018
Twitter
Mikki MORGAN
@EarthMomma49
Replying to @BillOReilly and @NoSpinNews
He didn’t score dickshit! He shook hands with a dictator gave himself a photo op and spewed more bullshit! And you support this swine Jesus flipping Murphy how bad are you!
1:27 PM · Jun 17, 2018 from Fort Worth, TX
Twitter
Katusagios Göranssen
@SeadogDriftwood
Replying to @Cataena and @wacom
Jesus frigging Murphy, what gauging bastardry!
1:01 PM · Jun 29, 2018
Urban Dictionary
Jesus Murphy
Canadian Jesus Christ. Meant to be said as an expletive.
What time is it? Jesus Murphy, I’m late!
Sue screams Jesus Murphy after she see’s a spider. She’s a total arachnophobe.
I like saying Jesus Murphy instead of using the lords name in vain.
by Kaizo64 September 1, 2018
MTI Blog (Montreal)
43 ‘Canadian Slang Words’ Translated For Americans
A list for our friends to the south!
Lena Slanisky
Mar 08, 2019, 9:06 AM Updated
(...)
Jesus Murphy
Jesus’ Irish cousin? Who knows. Used much like the classic use of the Lord’s name in vain. Can imply frustration or fear.
Twitter
ANDX, Sports Gamer, BRXLZ nut, MFL sim league guy.
@AndX259
JESUS FLIPPIN MURPHY!!! What was wrong with this woman?
Quote Tweet
Florida Man
@FloridaMan__
·
Feb 6, 2020
Florida Woman elementary school teaching assistant sold fentanyl to teen who died of overdose https://whdh.com/news/police-elementary-school-teaching-assistant-sold-fentanyl-to-teen-who-died-of-overdose/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
10:43 PM · Feb 6, 2020
Raptor Translations Magazine
15 Canadian Slang Words You Need to Know (For Your Next Trip!)
Henry Ausberger
September 29, 2020
(...)
7. Jesus Murphy – Jesus Christ
(...)
This term was Jesus Murphy, substituting “Christ” for “Murphy.
However, I would be extremely cautious when using this in public. A few Irish-Canadians do see the term as a very offensive one, especially so when foreigners use it. However, this is only a small minority of them.
Twitter
ECTO
@ectodubs
Replying to @PACKBACK_MUSIC
Jesus fricking murphy
5:58 PM · Mar 27, 2021
Twitter
Janel Comeau
@VeryBadLlama
It’s also worth noting that Jesus sometimes has a different last name in Atlantic Canada than he does in the right of the world.
Instead of Jesus Christ, he’s Jesus Murphy. Sometimes Jesus H. Murphy. I do not know what the H stands for.
8:49 PM · Jul 23, 2021
Twitter
Miranda Lee
@MvnstersAtHvme
The new season of YOU comes out tomorrow and Jesus fucking Murphy am I excited.
3:04 PM · Feb 8, 2023