To scare the hell out of you is an odd expression but keep in mind this is literally what early preachers did to get converts. They would scare you with hell. Things like this were so strong in the early days of Christianity that people were all asking what was and was not a "sin." Over time the expression was simply used to mean "you scared me a lot, or surprised me."

One I always liked was RIP (rest in peace.) Everyone thinks it is so wonderful and comforting that you want the dead to rest in peace. This saying comes out of times that people believed the dead did not rest in peace because they might come back and bother you. There were various ways of making sure the dead rested in peace and it gave the living peace of mind. Today we have a bit less superstition in our world.

Just yesterday on social media a believer is not excepting my statement of no longer believing in gods. He demands that I give him proof, as most believers will do. I did not claim there are no gods. I stated that I no longer believe in gods. The burden of proof is upon him because of his demand. I make no claim for gods of any kind.

Most things people say, especially the cliches, are non-sensical rubbish. In all of human history only Dick Cavett made sense.

Comments like this with religious connotations probably are rooted in Christianity and Judaism since they’re the ones who coined the words. I don’t see Muslims or Buddhists saying them the same. Muslims would probably be to afraid to and eastern religious people probably have their own curses.

Does “Going to bed” make sense when one makes love and the other has sex?

Drivers can be ticketed for going through red lights.