Questions I've Never Heard Satisfactory Answers To

[Sunshine]

Tarnation

Tarnation and darnation (the latter probably having come first) are both euphemistic forms of damnation. Tarnation seems to have been influenced by tarnal, another mild oath derived from (e)ternal!

The Oxford English Dictionary cites late-18th-century examples of tarnation from New England, indicating that it has been part of American speech since colonial days.



---

Tarnation is a euphemism for the words "eternal damnation". The Online Etymology Dictionary says that tarnation is an American English word and is known to date from at least 1784.

The phrase "hell and tarnation" is used today particularly in the south eastern parts of the US. It is a way to swear, but without actually using swear words. This is known as a "minced" oath. That is, you are using words that are not explicit in their meaning.

The threat of "hell fire and eternal damnation" is thought to originate from evangelical bible teachings, although it is difficult to find an exact biblical reference to this threat. So the biblical origin of the phrase could be a myth.

Same goes for the phrase:" What in the Sam Hell is wrong with you?"


Just like "Hell's Bell's" means damn!!