Hi this is Tutor Nick p and this is Interjection four.
The interjection today is "ah shucks" or sometimes you can just say shucks by
itself. So let's take a look at the note here.
So shucks or ah shucks or aw shucks. So it could be either A-H or A-W.
Ah and aw. So ah shucks or aw shucks is often used as a mild
way of expressing anger, annoyance,
regret, etc. It could be used as a way of showing one is
humble or embarrassed by praise. So it could be
that way as well. So it has a number of uses.
It can also be used as an idiom, as in something is not worth shucks,
or something doesn't amount to shucks, meaning that something is of little
or no value. Okay. Let's continue. The best
theory of the origin is that it was probably
just a euphemism. Remember when we say a euphemism that means
it's a word that's a better word for another word,
that probably is either offensive or you know, it's not a nice word. So it's
probably just the use of a euphemism for the word
"shit. " Just like we use "shoot" or "sugar" in the same way as
well. So to be honest, I don't know if
shit is really that offensive a word anymore because it's just so
common in American English, but still you might want to avoid it.
And these are some other options. So sometimes somebody might
say shucks instead of the word shit or you know, you might have heard people you
know, in the past say "oh shoot" you know, instead of saying " oh" and then
that other word again. Or "oh sugar" you know, we also use that
to try to avoid saying the word you know, S-H-I-T.
All right. Anyway, let's continue. Okay. So the use of this interjection
goes back over 100 years, but became
more popular in the 1940's. Okay. So let's look at the first one. Ah shucks.
I forgot to bring it. Yeah. So to be honest we
use it very much like "oh shit. That's very, very common we might do that but
again, if you want to avoid that word . You
know the S-H-I-T word or you think that it might be a
little offensive you could use this instead. All right.
Here's the second one. Aw shucks. I knew I should have invested
in that stock, but I didn't do it. Now it tripled in
value. So like I'm so stupid. I missed that really good
opportunity. I was thinking of doing it and I didn't do it and look what
happened. I lost a good opportunity. Aw shucks.
Okay. Number three here. Aw shucks. Now this one's more the embarrassment
or like trying to act a bit humble (use). Like someone might say
you know, they probably you know act it out. So like aw
shucks , you didn't have to buy me a thank- you
gift. It really wasn't a big deal for me to help. Like
you know, you didn't have to do that. Aw shucks that's not necessary.
So here it's either like the the acting humble or a little embarrassed.
All right and number four here. This one's also the same thing.
A little humble or embarrassed. Shucks. I never expected such praise.
I was only doing my job. Well, whatever he did maybe he got a lot of praise for it.
He didn't expect that. He doesn't think that people should be
treating him so special for this. So shucks. Okay. Number five here.
All his apologies don't amount to shucks. So this is the idiom
He should be fired for costing the company, so much money. So aw
yeah again, it sounds a little bit like sometimes the way we use "shit" you know,
we could say something doesn't amount to shit.
Meaning it doesn't amount to much or is of little or no value. So
really it has the same use here. And number six.
His word. Yeah. His word is not worth shucks. All right. Remember
because we could say something is not worth shucks.
He has proven to be a liar many times. So his, his word is of little or no value.
Anyway, I hope you got it. I hope it was clear.
This is a very useful interjection because it's quite common.
So thank you for your time. Bye-bye.