As hell

Question

What's a family-friendly alternative for the expression "... as hell", "... as f..." and so on? As in: "It's cold as hell in here". What words can I use as a substitute?

Khoff · Accepted Answer

as cold as heck
as cold as all get-out
as cold as cold can be
darn cold

Fivejedjon · Answer

as cold as charity

Geoyo · Answer

Thank you, khoff. That is very helpful. "as cold as cold can be", can you also say "as cold as can be"? I've heard this phrase before, but not with the word being repeated in between.

Geoyo · Answer

Thank you, fivejedjon. "as charity", I did not know about this before. I just looked it up in a dictionary, it seems that it's always used in conjunction with "cold", is that true?

I just remembered another word, "frick". I know that it's less offensive than the other f-word, but I'm not sure if it's acceptable in a family context. Could you use it around kids or conservative people or would it still be upsetting?

GPY · Answer

khoffas cold as all get-out

This is a new one for me. I think it is more or less unknown in the UK.

GPY · Answer

geoyoI just remembered another word, "frick". I know that it's less offensive than the other f-word, but I'm not sure if it's acceptable in a family context. Could you use it around kids or conservative people or would it still be upsetting?

It sounds crude, and I definitely would not recommend using it in polite contexts.

Geoyo · Answer

Aw, that's too bad. I like that one.

Fivejedjon · Answer

geoyoThank you, fivejedjon. "as charity", I did not know about this before. I just looked it up in a dictionary, it seems that it's always used in conjunction with "cold", is that true?

Yes. We don't say as (anything else) as charity.

Some groups regard charity as being distributed towards other members from within their particular group. Although giving to those nearly connected to oneself is sometimes called charity — as in the saying "Charity begins at home" – normally charity denotes giving to those not related, with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filial_piety and like terms for supporting one's family and friends. Indeed, treating those related to the giver as if they were strangers in need of charity has led to the figure of speech "as cold as charity" – providing for one's relatives as if they were strangers, without affection.^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_(practice)#cite_note-3}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_(practice)

Khoff · Answer

geoyocan you also say "as cold as can be"?

Yes, that's fine too.

CalifJim · Answer

GPY khoff as cold as all get-out This is a new one for me. I think it is more or less unknown in the UK.

Interesting. I would never have guessed. It's very well known here, having been around for at least 50 years.

CJ

As hell

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