The single most useful word in the English language

At the risk of offending some — today I’d like to share one of my all-time favorite words.

FUCK.

The F-bomb.

A word I find pretty hard to avoid in my every day speech. As those who know me will attest.

Vulgar. Profane. Crude. Disgusting. It’s bleeped out on television. Censored in writing. We threaten to wash our children’s mouths out with soap for using it.

Yet we both mutter and shout it whenever necessary.

Just 4 short letters. Fuck is a word of many talents. Noun, verb, adjective, adverb and exclamation! A virtual Swiss Army Knife of Vernacular.

In his book, The F-word, Jesse Sheidlower writes: “Fuck, is one of the few words in the English language with true medicinal qualities. It clears our heads of the cobwebs that our bosses, our politicians and our pundits seem to spin with their tired words and useless cliches…I believe the use of the word in times of extreme stress can work wonders…” to instantly make one feel better.

After all, what other word can express so many powerful emotions: Pain, passion, anger, fear, happiness, boredom, elation, panic, disgust, excitement.

As in:

What the Fuck. To express shock, surprise, the illogic of something.

Go Fuck Yourself. A forceful expression of anger or contempt.

I don’t give a (flying) fuck. To express disdain.

What a Clusterfuck. Connoting a chaotic situation.

They live in Bumfuck. Designating the middle of nowhere.

What A Dumbfuck. That’s one stupid person.

Fuck That. An expression of extreme frustration.

Are you fucking with me? As in messing with someone.

There’s: I don’t give a Fuck. Fuck A Duck. That’s totally fucked up. And shut the fuck up — aka STFU.

There are Fuckbuddies. And Fuck-Me Boots.

And the ever popular — Fuck You or Fuck Off. Registering anger and contempt directed at someone.

John McCane aka Bruce Willis made it famous when he proclaimed. “Yippee-ki-yay, Mother Fucker.”

In movie, The Wolf of Wall Street, Fuck is used a whopping 569 times in 180 minutes. In Pulp Fiction, 267 times.

As VP, Joe Biden is remembered for exclaiming “This is one BFD” hot mic moment when President Obama signed the historic health care bill. And more recently in another hot mic moment he thanked a supporter in Florida saying “Nobody fucks with a Biden.” To which the man replied “Goddamn right.

Yup, it’s powerful — emotionally, physiologically, psychologically and socially

So, where the fuck does this glorious word come from?

Its origins are dubious and disputable.

English historian, Dr. Paul Booth, claims he came across the word in a court case of a sexual nature involving one ‘Roger Fuckebythenavele’ (possibly a nickname) dating back to 1310.

Some trace it back to German origin meaning “to strike” or “hit.” Or the Dutch fokken (to breed or beget).

One urban legend attributes it to a time when sex was outlawed unless it was permitted by the king. People who wanted to do it, needed to have “Fornication Under Consent of the King (F.U.C.K.)” displayed on their door.

Another rumors traces it to a medical diagnostic notation associated with the British Imperial Army designation those found to have V.D. with the abbreviation F.U.C.K — Found Under Carnal Knowledge was stamped on a soldier’s documents.

There are countless other historical references. So, basically, who the fuck knows.

But whatever the origin, there’s simply no substitute for it.

Can I get a Fuck Yeah!