Halifax, from Hell to

a coined expression meaning all over or everywhere. Historically, Halifax was (and is) a town in north central England whose name came to be a euphemism for hell in such phrases as "go to Halifax." Also, the name appears in an old beggars' and vagabonds' "prayer" that goes "From Hull, Hell and Halifax, Good Lord, deliver us." It is said that Hull (a seaport in England) was to be avoided because the beggars had little chance of getting anything there without doing hard labor for it, and Halifax because anyone caught stealing cloth there was beheaded without further ado.