A swear jar (also known as a swearing jar, cuss jar, swear box or cuss bank) is a device intended to discourage people from using profanity. [1] Every time someone uses profanity, others who witness it collect a "fine", by insisting that the offender put some money into the box. [2] The container may be made of glass, porcelain, or metal, and may have a lid with a slot. From time to time, the accumulated money may be used for some agreed-upon purpose, or contributed to charity.
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The concept appears to have originated in the 1890s, under the name "swear box", [3] [4] and to have gained popularity in the 1910s. [5] The term "swear jar" appears to have been invented in the 1980s in the United States, and is not documented in Great Britain; [5] an early mention of a swear jar is in the 1988 American movie Moving. The concept of swear box or jar became very popular in the 1980s. [5]
A swear jar might not be a physical object; instead, a notional swear jar is referred to in order to indicate someone's use of profanity has been noted.
