Comments on: What in tarnation? http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html Stories, quotes and anecdotes. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:31:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Carson Barham http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1343023 Carson Barham Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:26:47 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1343023 Ummm, almost correct…”What in the Sam Hill?” derives its origins from Samuel Ewing Hill, who was sent by the Governor of Kentucky to see what was going on in reference to the Hatfields & McCoys family feud in 1887. Between 1880 and 1891, the feud claimed more than a dozen members of the two families, becoming headline news around the country, and compelling the governors of both Kentucky and West Virginia to call up their state militias to restore order. The Governor of West Virginia once even threatened to have his militia invade Kentucky. Kentucky Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner in response sent his Adjutant General to Pike County, Kentucky to investigate the situation. Newspapers from around the country awaited word from Adjutant General Sam Hill to find out “what in the Sam Hill was going on up there.”

]]> By: Jimmie http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1335317 Jimmie Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:21:28 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1335317 The only thing I would add is that the two root words you mention actually go together in one curse: “Eternal damnation!” Also, this is a common coupling of the two words in “fire and brimstone” gospel preaching that was common in those days. So it makes even more sense that they would come up with “tarnation” as a way to quickly curse the situation, or person (or the predator hawk as seen in the old advertisement above), without actually crossing the line into literal cursing.

]]> By: Dan O http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1236238 Dan O Fri, 08 Feb 2013 02:04:52 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1236238 I always figured it was a Southern thing, since I’ve only seemed to ever hear Southern people say it.

]]> By: John http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-538274 John Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:57:11 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-538274 I just said “what in tarnation?” and my co-workers asked from where I get my sayings. Your explanation was great. Thanks

]]> By: Dave http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-387595 Dave Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:11:00 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-387595 WHAT IN TARNATION? I love it

]]> By: Susan http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1710 Susan Mon, 17 May 2010 15:47:38 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1710 Here’s a write-up on “red the table,” or as we used to say, “rid the table.” They explain it quite throughly, including why some say rid and some red.
:)

http://www.word-detective.com/2009/06/02/rid-up/

]]> By: Admin http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1658 Admin Sun, 16 May 2010 21:05:47 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1658 Not a clue! My Dad’s mom came from a long line of Scots-Irish and his dad came from a long line of Pennsy Dutch, so I would’ve thought I’d have encountered that phrase somewhere coming up.

Ok, readers! Jump in here.

]]> By: Joan http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1655 Joan Sun, 16 May 2010 19:46:46 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1655 Now, I have a word for you — do you know the derivation, and from where this phaase comes from, “red the table”. In our family the phase is used for “clearing the table.
For a long time my mother thought it was from her Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors. However I have read that it might come frome the Scots-Irish. Do you have an idea about this phrase?

]]> By: Janet Smart http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2010/05/what-in-tarnation.html#comment-1589 Janet Smart Sat, 15 May 2010 15:58:14 +0000 http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2007/05/what-in-tarnation/#comment-1589 We’ve always said “tarnation”. I’ve often wondered where the saying came from.

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