The language we hear today can only be described as atrocious and inappropriate. Many people say their grandparents would roll over in their graves if they heard what’s said on television today. Grandma and Grandpa might seem awfully buttoned-up, but back in the day they had their own curse words — they just used innocuous versions. These words and phrases, all of which seem tame by today’s standards, at the time probably infuriated their parents and grandparents with their saucy nature.
- • Son of a Gun: It’s hard to know definitively where this phrase originated, but it’s thought that it stems from the British Navy. They allowed wives to accompany their husbands on certain voyages, and occasionally a baby would be born onboard. The baby would then become known as a “son of a gun,” even if it was a girl.
- • Dadgummit: Call it what you will — dadgummit, dagnabbit or goldarnit — these were your grandparents’ words for getting around language rules. Dadgummit actually originated with the sitcom The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan as Grandpa Amos, who used the word dadgummit as his redneck catchphrase.
- • Sam Hill: Who was Sam Hill and what did he do that was so wrong that it had people calling out his name all the time? While many Sam Hills have existed, none of them spawned the old saying, which is simply another way of saying “hell” without actually saying it.
- • Tarnation: Now, here's another old-timey phrase you'd hear on TV Westerns. The word "tarnation," which dates back to the 18th century, comes from "darnation" which is derived from "damnation.” So, Grandpa could get away with saying, “What in the tarnation are you talking about?” without fear of offending someone.
