Date: Mon, 13 Mar 1995 16:53:32 -0500

From: "Jerry (NMN) Miller" miller[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NEWTON.FRANKLINCOLL.EDU

Subject: Re: Expletive origin



"I Hear America Talking" by Flexner includes "Sam Hill" in a long list of mild

curses and mincing terms and gives 1839 as its date of introduction in America.

It doesn't explain the origin of the phrase, however, although presumably, Hill

is Hell minced, and perhaps Sam is damned minced? Could happen. (But not nearly

as scintillating as W. C. Fields' classics, "Godfrey Daniel" and "Shivering

Shinola," in my humble opinion!)



jmiller