expletive deletiven.
/ᵻkˌspliːtɪv dᵻˈliːtɪv/, /ɛkˌspliːtɪv dᵻˈliːtɪv/, U.S. /ɛkˌsplidɪv dəˈlidɪv/, /ɛkˌsplidɪv diˈlidɪv/ A swear word, a profanity. Frequently used (sometimes parenthetically) to indicate the omission in print of a swear word or profanity. Cf. expletive deleted at expletive n. 1c.
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1974 Brandon (Manitoba) Sun 17 May 6/2 ‘That's a lot of expletive deletive,’ the Bruins' all-star defenceman said.
1974 Brandon (Manitoba) Sun 17 June Perhaps we could expand the ban to news stories. Mr. Nixon's expletive deletives, My Lai, Maalot, all the unsavory incidents..could be skilfully avoided.
1987 Telegraph (Nexis) 1 Dec. It all started in the members' locker room when the towel cupboard ran dry in the shower room... ‘Where's the (expletive deletive) towels?’ came the painful cry.
2013 Geelong (Austral.) Advertiser (Nexis) 31 July 7 I immediately responded along the lines of ‘you're expletive-deletive joking,’ to which Phil from Unique Cars replied, ‘no, I'm not expletive-deletive joking.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1974- to engage in tierce
- to engird in
- to engross the market
- to engross up
- to enjoin a person to
- to enjoin to
- to enjoy a maidenhead
- to enjoy a woman's maidenhead
- to enjoy of
- to enlarge a horse
- to enlarge an estate
- to enlarge on
- to enlarge one's heart
- to enlarge the hand
- to enlarge the heart
- to enrol up
- to enter a caveat
- to enter a person on panel
- to enter a person's head
- to enter a person's mind
- to enter a person's name
- to enter a protest
- to enter arms
- to enter bonds
- to enter by the hawse-holes