Expression idiomatique en anglais: Come hell or high water

• come what may
• any difficulties or obstacles that may occur
• no matter what happens
• no matter how difficult it is

• I want to complete this report by today, come hell or high water.
• He said he will be going for the trip, come hell or high water.
• His boss said he wanted the project completed by the end of the week, come hell or high water.
• She said she had planned her vacation since a year and she would be going for it, come hell or high water.
• He said he would leave by evening, come hell or high water, since he had an appointment with his dentist and he did not want to miss it.
• My friend has started up a new company and he wants it to be successful, come hell or high water.
• He said he wanted to shift into his new home by the end of the year, come hell or high water.

The phrase originated in America around the mid 1800s and the earliest print reference is from 1882 in an Iowa newspaper, The Burlington Weekly Hawk Eye. However, why hell or high water is referenced to as obstacles is not clear.