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"?