HE-double-toothpicks

HE-double-toothpicks

English

Etymology

"Hell" spelled out, referring to the fact that lowercase "l" looks like a toothpick.

Noun

HE-double-toothpicks (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Hell.
   • 1982, Peter W. Davis, Hometown:

     Yet you try it out and the gimpy ones will scream H-E double toothpicks about Social Security in their golden years, which I want to tell them I need some security right now or I'm not going to have any golden years.

   • 1999, Chip Ward, Canaries on the Rim: Living Downwind in the West:

     Rural Mormons like my friend do not use the "H word" lightly. They say "HE double toothpicks" rather than pronounce the word out loud.

   • 2002, Christopher Breen, Mac 911:

     When they do, all kinds of h-e-double-toothpicks can ensue—including a mac that freezes during the startup process.

Usage notes

May be spelled with varying levels of hyphen usage.

See also

• HE-double-hockey-sticks