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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
this is hella new to me:
hella, adv. (and a.)
NEW EDITION: draft entry Dec. 2002
N. Amer. slang.
Very, exceedingly; in an extraordinary or impressive manner. Also occas. as adj.: much, a lot of.
1987 Toronto Star 11 Apr. M2/4 He released the catch on his reel which began to whir like a movie camera as the horse went hella whoopin' down the trail, trailing 50 feet or more of the best Berkley Trilene Monofilament line. 1989 Life (Nexis) July 24 He's hella-fine. 1991 E. CURRIE Dope & Trouble II. vii. 162 There's a lot of people out there that are hella smart, they could be something in life. 1994 RIP June 43/2 You'll read and see what happened at another of our unprecedented, skull-crushing, ear-aching, stage-diving, hella-cool extravanganzas [sic]. 2001 Orange County Reg. (Santa Ana, Calif.) (Nexis) 28 Dec. 22 Come on! That's hella funny!
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Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I've wondered if it came from hellacious. 
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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[Origin uncertain; perh. shortened < HELLUVA n. Cf. HELLACIOUS a., HELLISH..]
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210 |
thanks for not sneaking that in to your first post...
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,475 |
I heard kids using it in the early '90s. The younger ones also said hecka.
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Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
So, if the kids had been joyfully imbibing the cup that cheers and then said, "That's hecka tea!" would they be implying that it was a witches brew?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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That's a good one, but don't let it go to your head. Rest on your laurels.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 7,210 |
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
See? Now y'all're stating to edge off into throwing bad puns after good.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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>stating to edge off
and we can't let any wiccad typos go unpunished.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
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Rest on your laurels.
OK Faldage, I'll stick to the hardy annuals.
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Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I have a question concerning this expression. Laurel leaves are very hard so why would resting on them come to mean relaxing or coasting on former accomplishments? There must be a step I'm missing.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Laurel leaf wreaths were awarded to victors in ancient Greek contests.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
And, I think, it is not one's body that one rests, but ones reputation.
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