Date: Tue, 14 Mar 1995 08:22:44 -0800

From: Allen Maberry maberry[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]U.WASHINGTON.EDU

Subject: Re: Expletive origin



The University of Chicago's Dictionary of American English (U.of Chicago,

1944) gives the citation:

Sam Hill. A euphemism for hell. 1839 Havana (N.Y.) "Republican" 21 Aug. (Th.)

"What in sam hill is that feller ballin' about?" ("sam hill" in lower case

in original)

Allen Maberry

maberry[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]u.washington.edu

On Mon, 13 Mar 1995, Jerry (NMN) Miller wrote:



"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