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Post by potet on Jan 28, 2023 17:04:10 GMT
Is hell still a four-letter word in the UK? I am reminded of people wincing at my using it in the 1960s by this passage from the English wit Quentin Crisp's memoirs. Talking about his novel The Naked Civil Servant, he reveals: "I had originally wanted to call the book I Reign In Hell, referencing Milton's line in Paradise Lost but Mr. Carroll [his publisher] was having none of it. Though he was a Milton fan, he thought the reference too obscure, the word 'reign' too pretentious and believed having the word 'Hell' in the title would scare people away. He thought The Naked Civil Servant was a much more intriguing title and that, I am glad to say, is what we went with."
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HELL
Jan 29, 2023 17:09:02 GMT
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jan 29, 2023 17:09:02 GMT
I never knew it was. It may have just been Mr. Carrol's personal opinion, which often is the way they think. He's right about the Paradise Lost reference though! But yes, the title used is more descriptive of the contents I would have thought. Interesting he did not think the word Naked would put people off.
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sirram
Senior Printer
No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money
Posts: 269
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HELL
Jan 29, 2023 17:47:08 GMT
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Post by sirram on Jan 29, 2023 17:47:08 GMT
"Hell" has always been a mild swear word, used for strong emphasis. As a child at home, I would have been in trouble for using it, but an expressions such as "Go to Hell", "What the Hell?" etc. were in common use, though I don't hear them so much today.
Watered-down versions were also common - "Bloody heck", "Bleedin' heck", "Bloomin' heck", "What the heck?" etc.
These days, one is more likely to hear, "What the f*ck?" - and that's just on the TV.
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HELL
Jan 29, 2023 20:05:51 GMT
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 29, 2023 20:05:51 GMT
Hell is the name of towns. Hells Gate, Montana is a ghost town.
Context is important for determining if hell is a mild swear or verbal emphasis.
In locations where the temperature hits 100 F [37.7778 C] "It's hot as hell" is more weather description than a swear.
It all depends on when, where, and what social strata you grew up in.
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HELL
Jan 29, 2023 21:25:52 GMT
Post by potet on Jan 29, 2023 21:25:52 GMT
"Hell" has always been a mild swear word, used for strong emphasis. As a child at home, I would have been in trouble for using it, but an expressions such as "Go to Hell", "What the Hell?" etc. were in common use, though I don't hear them so much today. Watered-down versions were also common - "Bloody heck", "Bleedin' heck", "Bloomin' heck", "What the heck?" etc. These days, one is more likely to hear, "What the f*ck?" - and that's just on the TV.I thought so. Thanks a lot.
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HELL
Jan 30, 2023 0:58:10 GMT
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jan 30, 2023 0:58:10 GMT
Maybe it depends on how religious a person is. Phrases such as go to hell could almost seem like a curse to some who follow such made up things, just like the word itself ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell ). I don't think Far Eastern religions have an alternative. But in film, TV and literature there are rules what words can be used depending on what age they are aimed at. Although stronger words seem to be creeping in to YA stuff now, when previously it was frowned on, as was sex, or even the mention of it. Ron, in Harry Potter, was always saying bloody, which in the UK was a strong expletive, or at least a swear word. I am not sure if American censors realised that. But the more a word is used the more acceptable it becomes. Apparently. Even the C word is used on TV etc., a lot now.
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HELL
Jan 30, 2023 1:08:34 GMT
Post by And Kevin 2024 on Jan 30, 2023 1:08:34 GMT
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HELL
Feb 2, 2023 20:45:48 GMT
Post by And Kevin 2024 on Feb 2, 2023 20:45:48 GMT
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