More bounce to the ounce

Question

I would like to know the meaning of the expression "more bounce to the ounce" I found it in a book and I tried to look up in dictionaries and in the web but I couldn't find anything! Help!

Miffy · Accepted Answer

Hi

It seems the soft drink company Pepsi used the slogan "More bounce to the ounce" in the 1950s or so. I have no idea if that is the actual origin of the phrase however.

The meaning of the phrase is similar to "more bang for your buck", which basically means you get better value for your dollar. Depending on the context it was in, "More bounce to the ounce" probably meant something along the lines of with this you will get more than with that. For example, if you were buying a car and one model (model A) was $5000 and went 90 miles per hour, and another model (model B) was also $5000, but only did 70 miles per hour, the salesman might say to you “Model A will give you more bounce to the ounce”.

I hope that helps a little with your understanding of this phrase, as I’m not sure if I explained it as well as it can be explained.

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello HW

In the 40s, Pepsi used the following jingle:

Pepsi-Cola hits the spot -
Twelve full ounces? that's a lot!
Twice as much for a nickel, too -
Pepsi-Cola's the drink for you!

When they introduced 'more bounce to the ounce' in the 50s,
it was presumably a reference to the 12 fluid ounces of the
jingle. ('Bounce' because it 'peps' you up.)

It seems highly appropriate to find a Henry Wotton on this site,
by the way.

'So well he understood the best and most/Of tongues...' etc.

MrP

Nona the brit · Answer

Maybe I just have a dirty mind, but 'more bounce to the ounce' or 'more bang for your buck' both sound rather saucy to me! Particularly the second one...

Not common phrases in British English, certainly!

Guest · Answer

what is the meaning of the 'more bounce to the ounce'

Mister Micawber · Answer

'more bounce to the ounce' = more value per quantity, more efficiency.

King · Answer

"More bounce to the ounce" isn't all that common here in America, either, but "more bang for your buck" is a commonplace statement.

Anonymous · Answer

There is a song by Zapp-More Bounce to the Ounce. It means that for every move you rock or dance to with the beat there is more bounce with it and it takes more than one step; because the music is good and keeping you moving . Now, that also means that when you are doing things and you say there is more bounce to the ounce;it means you getting more out of it then just what you  expected.

Anonymous · Answer

The above's right but it also means more weed more fun ( ounce of weed bounce for hours )

Anonymous · Answer

"More bounce to the ounce" may be not common in British English, but it surely excists.
I'm just a Dutchman so how should I know?
I read P.G. Wodehouse and though that gentleman has lived most of his life in the US he is the author of very British characters like the gentleman's gentleman Jeeves, his master Bertram Wooster, Mr. Mulliner and so on.
When he puts the expression 'Bounce to the ounce' in the mouth of Bertie Wooster, I'm sure it is British. And he did, like in this quote from "Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves" first published in 1963:

"It is no secret in the circles in which he moves that Bertram Wooster, though as glamorous as one could wish when night has fallen and the revels get under way, is seldom a ball of fire at the breakfast table. Confronted with the eggs and b., he tends to pick cautiously at them, as if afraid they may leap from the plate and snap at him. Listless, about sums it up. Not much bounce to the ounce."

I'm sure in this quote there's no room for the dirty mind meaning you have in mind like Zapp & Roger did when they wrote the song 'More Bounce to the Ounce' Here it sure is 'Not much value for the money' It's like he is warning his friends and relations they won't get that value when they'd pay him a visit in the morning.

Anonymous · Answer

More pep in your step, more bounce for the once.

More bounce to the ounce

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