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Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. Every language has its ways of expressing strong emotions -- surprise, shock, anger. The expressions range from mild to strong, from exclamations and oaths, to curses and swear words. The ones that are accepted in public speech change through the years as social rules change. At times, only very mild expressions are socially accepted. Some of the most popular expressions are those that are guaranteed not to offend anyone. Most of these exclamations have survived from earlier days. And their original meanings are long since forgotten. Great Scott! is a good example. It expresses surprise or shock. You might say to someone, "Great Scott! I did not know she was married!" Language expert Webb Garrison tells an interesting story about the expression. Just before the Civil War, the Whig political party was making a last effort to remain a part of American political life. For the election of eighteen fifty-two, the Whigs wanted to offer a colorful candidate for president. They thought that Winfield Scott would be the right candidate. In his thirty years as a general, Winfield Scott had become one of the best-known military leaders in the country. During the war with Mexico, he had captured Vera Cruz and occupied Mexico City. So, party leaders thought that if any Whig could be elected president, it was Winfield Scott. | 
