3.975 Sam Hill (89)

Willard McCarty (MCCARTY@vm.epas.utoronto.ca)
Tue, 30 Jan 90 20:34:55 EST

Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 3, No. 975. Tuesday, 30 Jan 1990.


(1) Date: Mon, 29 Jan 90 22:00:00 EST (8 lines)
From: NMILLER@vax1.trincoll.edu
Subject: Sam Hill

(2) Date: Mon, 29 Jan 90 18:23:57 MST (12 lines)
From: Richard Hacken <RDH@BYUVM>
Subject: Sam "Hell"

(3) Date: Tue, 30 Jan 90 08:40:42 EST (9 lines)
From: Dan Mosser <MOSSERD@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU>
Subject: Re: 3.969 German poetry? samhell? SGML? (74)

(4) Date: Tue, 30 Jan 90 15:10:35 EST (13 lines)
From: Ray Wheeler <DS001451@VM1.NoDak.EDU>
Subject: Re: 3.969 German poetry? samhell? SGML? (74)

(5) Date: Tue, 30 Jan 90 15:07:00 EST (12 lines)
From: "J. S. Reed" <UNCJSR@UNC>
Subject: Re: 3.969 German poetry? samhell? SGML? (74)

(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 90 22:00:00 EST
From: NMILLER@vax1.trincoll.edu
Subject: Sam Hill

Eric Partridge says that Sam Hill or Hell is a 20th Century Cockney euphemism
for hell. Mitford Mathews, however, finds it in the United States as early
as 1839. But then, E.P. seldom got things quite right.

(2) --------------------------------------------------------------17----
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 90 18:23:57 MST
From: Richard Hacken <RDH@BYUVM>
Subject: Sam "Hell"

According to the Facts on File Folks, Colonel Samuel Hill of Guilford, Conn.
was a perpetual political candidate (who was apparently so unsuccessful that
except for the Encyclopedia of American Politics [1946], there is scarce
evidence for his having ever existed). In any case, he inspired the saying
to "run like Sam Hill", or "go like Sam Hill." This served neatly as a
personified euphemism for hell amongst our [American] Puritan ancestors.
No wonder nobody in Glasgow knows who in the Sam Hill he was.

(3) --------------------------------------------------------------19----
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 90 08:40:42 EST
From: Dan Mosser <MOSSERD@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU>
Subject: Re: 3.969 German poetry? samhell? SGML? (74)

I think the expression you are asking about is "Sam Hill." The Random House Di
ct'y cites the expression as a slang term for "hell . . .used esp. in WH-quetio
ns as a mild oath expresing exasperation and usually prec. by *in* or *the*): *
Who in Sam Hill are you?* [1830-40, *Amer.*; *Sam* (orig *salmon*, var of *Sal(
o)mon* an oath ) + *hill*, euphimism for HELL." Hope that helps (* = itals.)
(4) --------------------------------------------------------------23----
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 90 15:10:35 EST
From: Ray Wheeler <DS001451@VM1.NoDak.EDU>
Subject: Re: 3.969 German poetry? samhell? SGML? (74)

RE: Samhell. Sorry for the confusion. I used to use this expression when I
was a kid back in Kansas, as did most of my friends, to mean hell. My
Calvinist parents would allow that term but never allow hell. According to
The New Dictionary of American Slang, the term should be Sam Hill, an
expression used in the 1800's to mean hell. Presumably, it was used in polite
company as a substitute for hell. It must be similar to the way some amateurs
substitute "goldarn" for the real thing. Now I use samhell if the phrase needs
another syllable for a little extra punch. I wouldn't care to be in the company
of anyone so polite as to be offended by "hell." --Ray Wheeler
(5) --------------------------------------------------------------18----
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 90 15:07:00 EST
From: "J. S. Reed" <UNCJSR@UNC>
Subject: Re: 3.969 German poetry? samhell? SGML? (74)

I've always assumed that "Sam Hill" was a euphemism, probably
Southern, for "hell." Certainly that's how it was used ca. 1950
in East Tennessee: i.e., "What in Sam Hill do you think you're
doing?" Of course making it "sam hell" removes the point, but
it doesn't have much point anyway, any more. (By the way,
my friend Samuel S. Hill, Jr., professor of religion at the
University of Florida, usually makes an anticipatory joke
when introducing himself.)