The phrase "What in tarnation?" is a mild exclamation of incredulity or surprise, essentially a gentler euphemism for "damnation." The term "tarnation" itself originated as a variant of "damnation" and a pronunciation of "eternal" used as a mild curse, dating back to at least 1787 in a play set in New York City. Regarding who famously said "What in tarnation?" the character Yosemite Sam from Looney Tunes is often popularly associated with this phrase as his iconic catchphrase. However, research shows that Yosemite Sam did not frequently say the phrase in original cartoons from 1945 to 1964, though he did utter it a few times in modern Looney Tunes productions from the 1990s onward. The strong association likely comes from the character's persona and occasional use of similar expressions throughout the series. Additionally, other characters such as Foghorn Leghorn and various others in mid-20th century American culture also used the phrase or its variants. In summary:
- "Tarnation" is a mild, historical euphemism related to "damnation."
- Yosemite Sam is popularly linked with saying "What in tarnation?" but this is more a modern or collective memory attribution than frequent original usage.
- The phrase was used by other American characters in media before and after Yosemite Sam's appearances.
This understanding clarifies the common phrase and its main cultural associations, especially with Yosemite Sam, despite popular misconceptions about its original prevalence in his dialogues.
