Bloody

Etymology:
Once bloody was about as dark as it got given that it was shortened from God’s blood and was an oath rather than just common or garden bad language. This has mellowed down to not really meaning much at all; but at least it still has some currency unlike ‘zounds’ (God’s wounds), ‘strewth’ (God’s truth) and other such florid and archaic exclamations.

Essential use in cinema: The Italian Job
Lad movie in excelsis The Italian Job is a 90 minute onanistic attempt in an age of crumbling empire to lord it over the bleeding foreigners. Perhaps there is something to be said about Britain not having an empire exactly because of the kind of complacency, nostalgia, criminality and cack-handedness of Charlie Croker’s crew. But at least it gave us the immortal words: “You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”