phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Derivation of "What in the Sam Hill......"

Posted by Jo on April 30, 2001

In Reply to: Derivation of "What in the Sam Hill......" posted by Bruce Kahl on June 22, 2000

: Merriam-Webster has a discussion of this phrase and others at the link below.
Sam Hill was a proponent of the Pacific Highway ... they thought he was crazy ...
"
"What in the Sam Hill do we need that for?"

: Seems your phrase, as in "What in the Sam Hill are you doing?", is a euphemism, an inoffensive expression used to substitute for terms that might offend or suggest something unpleasant aka "Minced oath". The hill part is thought to be a stand-in for the word hell, but why Sam? Theories abound, but proof is scarce.

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.