Monday Musings (Hard as ___)

I was trying to finish a puzzle today and I said “this is hard as hell” and a co-worker said to me “it’s not HELL it’s HAIL”. I had to google it because I couldn’t believe it. What I’ve learned is that there is no real origin of the term Hard as Hail, but I must say it does make more sense right? What do you guys say? I’m really curious, because everyone that I’ve asked around me say’s that they say Hell.