<P> The Oxford English Dictionary prefers the theory that it arose from aristocratic rowdies known as "bloods", hence "bloody drunk" means "drunk as a blood". </P> <P> Until at least the early 18th century, the word was used innocuously . It is used as an intensifier without apparent implication of profanity by 18th - century authors such as Henry Fielding and Jonathan Swift ("It was bloody hot walking today" in 1713) and Samuel Richardson ("He is bloody passionate ." in 1742). </P> <P> After about 1750 the word assumed more profane connotations . Johnson (1755) already calls it "very vulgar", and the original Oxford English Dictionary article of 1888 comments the word is "now constantly in the mouths of the lowest classes, but by respectable people considered' a horrid word', on par with obscene or profane language ." </P> <P> On the opening night of George Bernard Shaw's comedy Pygmalion in 1914, Mrs Patrick Campbell, in the role of Eliza Doolittle, created a sensation with the line "Walk! Not bloody likely!" and this led to a fad for using "Pygmalion" itself as a pseudo-oath, as in "Not Pygmalion likely", and bloody was referred to as "the Shavian adjective" in polite society . </P>

Where does the saying bloody hell come from