Comments on: Hell bent for leather

By: Tealeaves

Tealeaves — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:31:44 +0000

And all this time I thought it was hell bent on election!
Or is that a mondegreen?

By: Twoshea

Twoshea — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 15:08:59 +0000

I always wondered whether the original phrase might have been “hell bent for lather” denoting that the horse would be all lathered up as a result of hard riding.
Incidentally, I, too, was a lover of Dutch Mill Donuts and, in fact, ate two for breakfast every day to help me when I gave up smoking back in 1990. Always wondered what happened to them. Thanks for the info.

By: George Starks

George Starks — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 12:56:46 +0000

As a kid who cut his teeth on classic movie westerns from the fifties, the phrase, in my mind, hads alwaye referred to quick guns, fast draw, and being ‘hellbent’ to draw faster than your foe, despite the overwelming odds of being unsuccessful. Despite your stuff about ‘horses’, I’ll stick with my own interp.

By: Southland - Page 26 - MassCops

Southland - Page 26 - MassCops — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:41:37 +0000

[...] Hell bent for leather « The Word Detective [...]

By: Judy Olsen

Judy Olsen — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:32:14 +0000

‘Leather’ was slang for c*nt.

By: Clubber Lang

Clubber Lang — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:40:40 +0000

LOL, love Knights answer

By: hacksawz

hacksawz — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:17:53 +0000

In the ’40s and ’50s, it meant going at or to something fast and furious regardless of the consequences. I haven’t heard it used recently.

By: John

John — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:18:50 +0000

I think it has something to do with pulling a gun. Like “Slap leather”.

By: Shane G.

Shane G. — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:39:25 +0000

It all sounds pretty good but I think I like it coming from the bottle cap of a Big Sky brew!!

By: Susan Thompson

Susan Thompson — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:44:34 +0000

Could it have anything to do with making the saddles themselves? The warming and stretching of the leather to the saddle?? Or possibly they had the same strange fetishes as ‘The Pony Club’ people who dress up as ponies and riders and enjoy some ‘free time’….!!

By: Rags

Rags — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:35:52 +0000

Whether we’re talking about the saddle, the crop or the poor horse’s backside, riding fast must be hell for the leather, right? ;-)

By: anders bredahl

anders bredahl — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:02:30 +0000

I believe this phrase sounds as though it originated from a race. Perhaps describing one so determined to win leather that they would ride in any manner neccesary to win.

Then eventually becoming accepted to be able to describe anyone determined enough to be reckless.