“Be it ever so humble ”

Origin

• Some believe that “be it” is an extremely old-fashioned (supposedly came from French), and just can be found in idioms:
• Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home(=no matter how humble);
• So be it(=let it be)
• Far be it from me to..(=I certainly don’t want to criticize..)
• Be it or not. (whether or not)

This construction is thought as formal one, but sometimes one can notice the overuse of it, at least, in US advertising and commentaries these days.

• This construction is thought as formal one, but sometimes one can notice the overuse of it, at least, in US advertising and commentaries these days.
• Furthermore, some native speakers might remember a few years ago this was what could be heard in a television advertisement for cars or soap. But then the fad faded.