as be damned

English

Prepositional phrase

as be damned

  1. As possible; to the greatest extent.
    • 1833, Thomas Dibdin, Lily of St. Leonards, London: John Dicks, page 3, column 2:
      I sud ha' been here as early as Maistress McCorkindale, but my devils o' boatmen are as stupid as mules, and as lazy as be damned.
    • 1889, Rudyard Kipling, “Only A Subaltern”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 145:
      “But they were as fit as be-damned when I left them!” said Bobby. “Then you'd better make them as fit as be-damned when you rejoin,” said the Major, brutally.
    • 1918 May 2, The Telegraph, Brisbane, page 6, column 6:
      He did very little shoutin', and was as calm as be-damned, but you could see he was boilin' up inside with excitement.
    • 2945 July 29, The Truth, Sydney, page 24, column 2:
      "I'm sixty and as fit as be damned, Sir!"
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