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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread "as all get out" #129128 06/07/2004 12:22 PM Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 1 Popser stranger Popser stranger Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 1 Yesterday, a WWII veteran gave an interview in which he said, in regard to how he felt on D-Day, "I was as emotional as all get out (or getout)." Is there a history to this expression: "as all get out"? The expression was common to me in the forties (I was about 8), used in so many ways: as happy as all get out; as tired as all get out, as beautiful as all get out, as fast or slow as all get out, etc. Of course, there are many interchangeable expressions, "emotional as hell, emotional as shit, etc., but is there anything more to "as all get out"? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "as all get out" #129129 06/07/2004 12:28 PM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 Hello, Popser, and welcome aBoard. Yes, I remember the expression from about that time, too - perhaps not with very common useage but not especially rare, either. It's meaning is obvious from context, of course, but I've no idea where it originated. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "as all get out" #129130 06/07/2004 12:35 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York It survived well into the 60s, at least, when I was growing up. My friends and I used it all the time. But no idea as to its origin. Great question, Pops, and welcome to the Board. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "as all get out" #129131 06/09/2004 2:25 PM Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA wow Carpal Tunnel wow Carpal Tunnel Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA Welcome Popser! Good post ... isn't it surprising how phrases we have known and used suddenly strike us as odd? No help here but to say I heard my parents use the phrase, - and that was eons ago - as I did and do myself. I am very old! HA! :) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "as all get out" #129132 06/10/2004 4:19 AM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Mark Twain used it. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: "as all get out" #129133 06/10/2004 8:44 AM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 It strikes me that it is a euphemism for "hell" - one of very many on both sides of the pond. (c.f.the 'Hecka' thread) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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