Yale Gives Richard Lewis Hell
The all-new Yale Book of Quotations attributes to Richard Lewis the expression, “the (blank) from hell,” as in “I had a date from hell.” Asked how he felt these years after he created a phrase that is an integral part of daily vernacular and advertising jargon, Lewis uncharacteristically said, “I’m completely in heaven.”
What started as part of his popular, early stand-up comedy routine, “I had a date from hell,” from which he digressed into the pains of his relationships and, in general, of feeling victimized by practically everything on earth, has now become a well aged, fine whine and been popularized enough to be commonly used even as a marketing slogan.
Do you have a dispute with this attribution? Comment to this post!
Do you have a quote to submit to the editor of the Yale Book of Quotations? Send him one.
The OED has a dispute with this attribution:
1902, L. Mckee, Land of Nome, 178:
“I felt that I had received a very high compliment..when an old-timer in the party..told me that I was a ‘musher from hell’.”
its simply not his though is it..
Love Is a Dog from Hell (1977)
Charles Bukowski