#&%@!

Faux Cuss Words 

A small and growing collection of relatively inoffensive phrases and words for stressful times:

• Turkeybutt
  invented by my sister around 1980; even when used angrily, the undertone is affectionate; about 15 years later, someone I didn't know used it in conversation with me, to my amazement!
• Barking spiders
  from Scott Westerfield's Leviatan novels; google reveals a band and real noise-emitting spiders/tarantulas;
• Blisters
  from Scott Westerfield's Leviatan novels
• Oh sugar
  from a favorite co-worker and a classic

If you have any you'd like to add to the list, please comment below or email me. Thanks!