Creeping Jesus

Creeping Jesus

Creeping Jesus is a Hiberno-English term, originally used derogatively, to describe a Roman Catholic seeking to make a public display of religiosity in a manner which seems hypocritical and simply for show.[1]

Contents

Origins of term

The origins of the term remain unclear. One possible meaning is of someone who creeps around a packed church to pray at each of the Stations of the Cross hanging on the walls with the intention that everyone in the pews can see him doing so, as if to say "notice how religious I am".

It is used in a rather different sense in William Blake's poem The Everlasting Gospel:

If he had been Antichrist, Creeping Jesus,
He'd have done anything to please us:[2]

Changing meanings

By the end of the 20th century the term had evolved somewhat away from a purely religion-focused term to one levelled at any public display presumed to be totally hypocritical.

Though originally a Hiberno-English term it has now appeared in British English, Australian English, American English, Scots, and Scots English, having been brought to other countries by Irish emigrant communities.

Examples of usage

A habitual show of ostentatious piety earned Irish President Seán T. O'Kelly (1945–1959) the accusation of being a "creeping Jesus".[citation needed]

Reference list



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • creeping Jesus — noun (derog sl) A cringingly sanctimonious person • • • Main Entry: ↑creep * * * creeping Jesus, British Slang. a person who acts in an abject or slavish manner …   Useful english dictionary

  • creeping jesus — Scottish Vernacular Dictionary The sage of Govan …   English dialects glossary

  • creeping Jesus — n an unpleasantly insincere, untrustworthy or complaining person; a creep, sneak or whinger. This strange expression of dis taste is mainly heard among middle class speakers in Britain and Australia; it dates, according to the Oxford English… …   Contemporary slang

  • creeping Jesus — noun Brit. informal a person who is obsequious or hypocritically pious …   English new terms dictionary

  • creeping Jesus — /kripɪŋ ˈdʒizəz/ (say kreeping jeezuhz) noun 1. → wandering jew. 2. Colloquial a slinking, fawning person …  

  • Jesus — n See creeping Jesus …   Contemporary slang

  • creep — v. & n. v.intr. (past and past part. crept) 1 move with the body prone and close to the ground; crawl. 2 (often foll. by in, out, up, etc.) come, go, or move slowly and stealthily or timidly (crept out without being seen). 3 enter slowly (into a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Seán T. O'Kelly — 2nd President of Ireland In office 25 June 1945 – 24 June 1959 Preceded by Douglas Hyde …   Wikipedia

  • William Blake — Infobox Writer name = William Blake caption = William Blake in an 1807 portrait by Thomas Phillips. birthdate = birth date|df=yes|1757|11|28 birthplace = London, England deathdate = death date and age|df=yes|1827|08|12|1757|11|28 deathplace =… …   Wikipedia

  • List of QI episodes (E series) — infobox tvseason season name = QI Series E caption = dvd release date = country = UK network = BBC first aired = 21 September 2007 last aired = 14 December 2007 num episodes = 13 prev series = Series D next series = Series F|This is a list of… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”