Seniors

George II

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26. Another one: many years ago fabric was sold in increments of three yards, up to nine yards.

Reply to CaliforniaPeggy (Original post)

Sun Nov 28, 2021, 09:40 PM

Nov 2021

If a seamstress wanted to sew a really fancy dress, she didn't purchase just three or six yards, she bought "the whole nine yards."

BUT, there's an alternate military explanation too. A machine gun belt was nine yards, so if a gunner emptied his gun he said he gave the enemy "the whole nine yards".

I prefer the first explanation, not sure the second is even true.

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A few things you may not have known: [View all] CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2021 OP

I know for sure that at least some of these are not accurate. tblue37 Nov 2021 #1

Yea TimeToGo Nov 2021 #4

How about telling us which ones those are? ShazzieB Nov 2021 #13

Well, for instance, a shot of whiskey ... Jim__ Nov 2021 #16

I agree that "shot of whiskey" etymology sounds mighty dubious. But... Bucky Nov 2021 #32

State rooms. A shot of whiskey. Over a barrel. tblue37 Nov 2021 #19

Interesting.. whathehell Nov 2021 #2

👍 Joinfortmill Nov 2021 #3

That's a compilation of folk etymology DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #5

Please tell us how you know. ShazzieB Nov 2021 #15

Google a few of them DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #20

How would you know if some French person is saying "rif et raf"? Bucky Nov 2021 #34

No--French pronounce Fs at the end of words. spooky3 Nov 2021 #36

It would, indeed DFW Nov 2021 #66

Thanks, DFW. spooky3 Nov 2021 #68

The French have a great expression: DFW Nov 2021 #69

I hope they didn't say that about the VP. :-) nt spooky3 Nov 2021 #70

Not yet, anyway DFW Nov 2021 #72

LOL! Nt spooky3 Nov 2021 #73

You Google it.. whathehell Nov 2021 #51

I'm surprised by this hostility. DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #56

I was surprised by the arrogance whathehell Nov 2021 #61

Another one, from the same source DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #21

How about posting the LINK, i.e. "the same source"? whathehell Nov 2021 #53

. Effete Snob Nov 2021 #71

Lol whathehell Nov 2021 #74

Some may be correct DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #23

DavidDorkin: You are right. Fun but wrong. Martin68 Nov 2021 #64

The play/movie was based on a NC " showboat" unc70 Nov 2021 #6

That's how I knew the history of that term, too. n/t intheflow Nov 2021 #18

Always love word and phrase origins! Thanks. TigressDem Nov 2021 #7

"The whole nine yards" Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #8

I always wondered about that one. momta Nov 2021 #10

Didn't see this before I posted my explanation. See my post about fabric, #26. George II Nov 2021 #27

Well, that sounds just as logical. Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #33

I love stuff lile this. Grumpy Old Guy Nov 2021 #9

When traveling from England to India lapfog_1 Nov 2021 #11

Well . . . TimeToGo Nov 2021 #14

Generally the simple explanation is indeed correct NullTuples Nov 2021 #17

Depends on what we mean by simple TimeToGo Nov 2021 #29

Interesting. Thanks for posting. Jim__ Nov 2021 #12

Cool stuff. Today I'm wiser tomorrow I'm older..74 mountain grammy Nov 2021 #22

Happy birthday! Many happy returns! ❤ littlemissmartypants Nov 2021 #37

Thank you mountain grammy Nov 2021 #42

Happy Birthday! nt Heartstrings Nov 2021 #46

Thank you.. mountain grammy Nov 2021 #52

By golly I learned something today JPPaverage Nov 2021 #24

Interesting & fun, thanks for posting Peggy. As a appalachiablue Nov 2021 #25

Another one: many years ago fabric was sold in increments of three yards, up to nine yards. George II Nov 2021 #26

Nine yard 3auld6phart Nov 2021 #47

Nine yard 3auld6phart Nov 2021 #48

Fun empedocles Nov 2021 #28

I'll take a shot of oil and a barrel of whiskey. NBachers Nov 2021 #30

I knew "curfew" and "buying the farm" but that's about it. calimary Nov 2021 #31

I'm surprised the WWI life insurance policy was $5000. I think that might marybourg Nov 2021 #35

❤ nt littlemissmartypants Nov 2021 #38

"State Rooms" have been called that since before there were states or steamships Bucky Nov 2021 #39

The term "hot off the press" originated in the days when newspapers used a process called sop Nov 2021 #40

Maybe maybe not. The Jungle 1 Nov 2021 #49

"Hot off the press - everyday phrases that come from printing." sop Nov 2021 #55

Maybe maybe not. The Jungle 1 Nov 2021 #65

Ah yes, the good ol' Linotype machine. trof Apr 2022 #75

I learned the etymology of "sleep tight" just this year. OilemFirchen Nov 2021 #41

That was a cool post I_UndergroundPanther Nov 2021 #43

Hot off the press. twodogsbarking Nov 2021 #44

Thanks Peggy! Love your posts! flying_wahini Nov 2021 #45

Another one - when a horse is withdrawn from a race it's "scratched" - in England centuries ago.... George II Nov 2021 #50

Pretty sure "over a barrel" refers to the sexual proclivities of sailors re young boys. eppur_se_muova Nov 2021 #54

It could, but... Marcuse Nov 2021 #60

Where did the word Threshhold come from? in the 1500's ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #57

Here are 4 more: "bone house", "graveyard shift", "saved by the bell, and "dead ringer". ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #59

I love these, and all others like them! BobTheSubgenius Nov 2021 #58

I learned a few things today lunatica Nov 2021 #62

I just checked up on the first one because it sounded very doubtful. Martin68 Nov 2021 #63

Looking this stuff up is half the fun DFW Nov 2021 #67