Beating the "tar" out of someone

Posted by Markitos July 31, 2001In reply to Beating the "tar" out of someone posted by R. Berg on July 11, 2001

Does anyone know the origin of: "scarred the tar out of them or beating the tar out of someone"? My thinking is it has some religious connotation. Any ideas?

The Dictionary of American Slang has this for "tar": "The insides; the stuffing. Usu. in 'beat [or knock] the tar out of [someone].' 1930: 'Someone . . . beat the tar out of the thug. . . .'"

Well, that's what you get when you use a dictionary!...."Tar" in this sense is a diminutive of "tarnation," which is a condensation of "eternal damnation," so when you beat the tar out of someone, you are essentially beating them sufficiently to return them to the path of rightousness.