Tuesday, February 10, 2015

What In The Sam Hill?

Who's the white private dick who's a sex machine with all the chicks?

Damn straight!

You see, "Sam Hill" isn't just an odd American euphemism for swear words that are no longer really considered swear words.  (Although you have to wonder if Archie Comics named it that way on purpose, just to be sniggering).

No, Sam Hill is not only "death on crooks, and murder on women":

He's a hard-boiled, wise-cracking sleuth!!

By the way, criminals--it's pretty foolish to threaten to kill a witness in open court. Doesn't much help your case, is all I'm saying--especially if, as you imply, you're going to murder him on the witness stand.

The other substantial contribution that Sam Hill has made to American English?

I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever head the electric chair referred to as "The Hot Squat."

The ad was from Darling Romance #8 (1951). The Sam Hill covers are from 1951

1 comment:

Green Luthor said...

"The Hot Squat"? Yeah, there's a Taco Bell joke to be made there, I'm sure. Luckily, I'm above that sort of thing.