Comments on: Hell or High Water http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Derek Pearce http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-55838 Derek Pearce Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:32:10 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-55838 The way I heard it the term "Hell or High Water" as in "to go through.." was derived from an English torture device. A cylinder about the length of the forearm with a bar that the prisoner would grip or be fastened to. Boiling water was poured in. Immersing the hand was low water. Half way to the elbow was middle water and the elbow was high water. So to vow to go though Hell (biblical Hell) or High Water was a vow to suffer pain and torture rather than break an oath or trust. The way I heard it the term “Hell or High Water” as in “to go through..” was derived from an English torture device. A cylinder about the length of the forearm with a bar that the prisoner would grip or be fastened to. Boiling water was poured in. Immersing the hand was low water. Half way to the elbow was middle water and the elbow was high water. So to vow to go though Hell (biblical Hell) or High Water was a vow to suffer pain and torture rather than break an oath or trust.

]]> By: Laura http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-41939 Laura Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:55:10 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-41939 Come hell or highwater derives from a particularly gruesome form of torture used in England. It was described to us on a trip to the London Dungeon. The "hell" was a burning hot fire poker shoved down the person's throat, and the "high water" was the water thrown in after that to "put out" the fire. If you could survive that, you could go on to do anything...come hell or high water. Come hell or highwater derives from a particularly gruesome form of torture used in England. It was described to us on a trip to the London Dungeon. The “hell” was a burning hot fire poker shoved down the person’s throat, and the “high water” was the water thrown in after that to “put out” the fire. If you could survive that, you could go on to do anything…come hell or high water.

]]> By: MIKE http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-19721 MIKE Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:46:42 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-19721 Isaiah 43: 1-5 "Come hell or high water" the Lord will be with you??? Even if it doesnt fit the origin of the phrase, contrary wise it sure as hell fits the meaning of the scripture unleashthefighter.org Isaiah 43: 1-5
“Come hell or high water” the Lord will be with you??? Even if it doesnt fit the origin of the phrase, contrary wise it sure as hell fits the meaning of the scripture

unleashthefighter.org

]]> By: john buckner http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-12316 john buckner Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:44:05 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-12316 Hell OR High water God willing AND the creek don't rise Applying Boolean logic these statements are negations of each other, i.e., in boolean logic: If A OR B the "negative" or negation is: NOT ( A OR B ) --> (NOT A) AND (NOT B) So if A is Hell; B is High Water NOT ( Hell OR High Water ) --> (NOT Hell) AND (NOT High Water) (Loosely equivalent: God Will AND Creek Don't Rise Likewise if C AND D the negation is: NOT ( C AND D ) --> (NOT C) OR (NOT D) C is God Willing; D is Creek Don't Rise NOT ( God Willing AND Creek Don't Rise ) --> (Loose Equiv) (NOT God) OR (NOT NOT Creek Rise) (Loose Equiv) HELL OR HIGH WATER It's nice when literary references are mathematically correct Hell OR High water
God willing AND the creek don’t rise

Applying Boolean logic these statements are negations of each other, i.e., in boolean logic:

If A OR B the “negative” or negation is:
NOT ( A OR B ) –> (NOT A) AND (NOT B)

So if A is Hell; B is High Water

NOT ( Hell OR High Water ) –>
(NOT Hell) AND (NOT High Water)
(Loosely equivalent: God Will AND Creek Don’t Rise

Likewise if C AND D the negation is:
NOT ( C AND D ) –> (NOT C) OR (NOT D)

C is God Willing; D is Creek Don’t Rise

NOT ( God Willing AND Creek Don’t Rise ) –>
(Loose Equiv) (NOT God) OR (NOT NOT Creek Rise)
(Loose Equiv) HELL OR HIGH WATER

It’s nice when literary references are mathematically correct

]]> By: pinq http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-12057 pinq Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:55:01 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-12057 why to accept hail, when hell sounds more in tandem! why to accept hail, when hell sounds more in tandem!

]]> By: Southern Woman http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-5277 Southern Woman Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:05:28 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-5277 Like others, I have always understood the phrase to be 'Come hell or high water'... However, in the defense of the person who posed the question, in a deep southern accent 'hell' is often pronounced 'hail.' Like others, I have always understood the phrase to be ‘Come hell or high water’… However, in the defense of the person who posed the question, in a deep southern accent ‘hell’ is often pronounced ‘hail.’

]]> By: June http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-4373 June Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:00:06 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-4373 Whew! We had a ginormous storm last night that knocked out power to a good part of our small town. Thankfully no major injuries or anything like that. Whew! We had a ginormous storm last night that knocked out power to a good part of our small town. Thankfully no major injuries or anything like that.

]]> By: booboo http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-3476 booboo Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:17:53 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-3476 What an interesting explanatin and I can see it also stemming from the idea that what may have also been in the minds of the individuals either in the Old West or the Old South, biblically speaking was the story of Noah and the Ark. I am sure back in those days (very early Christian beginnings or even prior)they didn't have the expression in English LOL but there may have been some idiom in early Mesopotamia which alludes to a similar situation of being stuck at a crossroads, a raging river, flood or attack by some other race, tribe or religious group! What an interesting explanatin and I can see it also stemming from the idea that what may have also been in the minds of the individuals either in the Old West or the Old South, biblically speaking was the story of Noah and the Ark. I am sure back in those days (very early Christian beginnings or even prior)they didn’t have the expression in English LOL but there may have been some idiom in early Mesopotamia which alludes to a similar situation of being stuck at a crossroads, a raging river, flood or attack by some other race, tribe or religious group!

]]> By: Terry Barnes http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-2832 Terry Barnes Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:03:44 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-2832 HAIL or high-water. These are both terms in regards to the weather. Whether it is coming down or coming up - nothing can stop me. HAIL or high-water. These are both terms in regards to the weather. Whether it is coming down or coming up – nothing can stop me.

]]> By: The Answer http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-2818 The Answer Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:07:57 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-2818 http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-com1.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-com1.htm

]]> By: Larry http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-2577 Larry Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:05:43 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-2577 In analyzing the words, Hell and High water, I find that both are biblical references. Both refer to total destruction of the earth and man. Both are outside our control, and both will result if we press on in a course contrary to Gods Will. “Come Hell” refers to the second coming of Christ where the final judgment will occur in the book of Revelation. Those who have not believed in the Savior Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Hell. There is no escape once they face judgment. “High Water” refers to the great flood in the book of Genesis. During Noah’s time, the entire world except for Noah and his sons rejected God. The result was a world wide flood destroying everyone except those who followed God. So you may say “I will do whatever I want” and rebel or reject God “come Hell”. But God has shown the He is able to destroy everything as evidenced by “High water” In analyzing the words, Hell and High water, I find that both are biblical references. Both refer to total destruction of the earth and man. Both are outside our control, and both will result if we press on in a course contrary to Gods Will. “Come Hell” refers to the second coming of Christ where the final judgment will occur in the book of Revelation. Those who have not believed in the Savior Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Hell. There is no escape once they face judgment.

“High Water” refers to the great flood in the book of Genesis. During Noah’s time, the entire world except for Noah and his sons rejected God. The result was a world wide flood destroying everyone except those who followed God.

So you may say “I will do whatever I want” and rebel or reject God “come Hell”. But God has shown the He is able to destroy everything as evidenced by “High water”

]]> By: AmericanHeretic http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/hell-or-high-water/comment-page-1/#comment-1881 AmericanHeretic Sun, 03 May 2009 20:40:47 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/12/hell-or-high-water/#comment-1881 When I lived in Hong Kong, I read that the origin of "come hell or high water" is English. The crown would punish a guilty person by forcing him the reach into a vat of boiling water and pull out a coin at the bottom. The severity of the crime determined the level of the water in the vat. The term "come hell or high water" designated a strong resolve that something would be done regardless of the consequences. When I lived in Hong Kong, I read that the origin of “come hell or high water” is English. The crown would punish a guilty person by forcing him the reach into a vat of boiling water and pull out a coin at the bottom. The severity of the crime determined the level of the water in the vat. The term “come hell or high water” designated a strong resolve that something would be done regardless of the consequences.

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