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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
English in UK
The Full Nine Yards
I wonder, has the expression
going the full nine yards
popped up in British English usage yet?
I've heard it on American radio 2 or 3 times recently, and once in a newsgroup message.
It's in the context of, for example,
He's going the full nine yards on this issue
I intend to go the full nine yards on this one
Irritatingly, I find myself unable to deduce the possible derivation of this phrase. Some sporting or athletic reference, maybe?
27 feet doesn't seem much of an achievement though, except maybe inanose-pushing-pea contest . . . .
Ian
going the full nine yards
popped up in British English usage yet?
I've heard it on American radio 2 or 3 times recently, and once in a newsgroup message.
It's in the context of, for example,
He's going the full nine yards on this issue
I intend to go the full nine yards on this one
Irritatingly, I find myself unable to deduce the possible derivation of this phrase. Some sporting or athletic reference, maybe?
27 feet doesn't seem much of an achievement though, except maybe inanose-pushing-pea contest . . . .
Ian
Top answer
[nq:1]I wonder, has the expression going the full nine yards popped up in British English usage yet? I've heard it ... " Maybe you can change it when it gets to the UK.
- [nq:1]I wonder, has the expression going the full nine yards popped up in British English usage yet?
- I've heard it ...
- " Maybe you can change it when it gets to the UK.
- There are many theories as to its derivation (just google "whole nine yards").
- The most likely, IMO, is that it is the length of an ammunition belt for an automatic weapon (machine gun).
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]I wonder, has the expression going the full nine yards popped up in British English usage yet? I've heard it ... the full nine yards on this issue I intend to go the full nine yards on this one Irritatingly, I[/nq]
The expression is the "whole nine yards." No one in America uses "full." Maybe you can change it when it gets to the UK. There are many theories as to its derivation (just goo
The expression is the "whole nine yards." No one in America uses "full." Maybe you can change it when it gets to the UK. There are many theories as to its derivation (just goo
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[nq:2]I wonder, has the expression going the full nine yards..[/nq]
[nq:1]The expression is the "whole nine yards." No one in America uses "full." Maybe you can change it when it ... The most likely, IMO, is that it is the length of an ammunition belt for an automatic weapon (machine gun).[/nq]
Yeah, that one does seem to fit, thanks.
Ian
[nq:1]The expression is the "whole nine yards." No one in America uses "full." Maybe you can change it when it ... The most likely, IMO, is that it is the length of an ammunition belt for an automatic weapon (machine gun).[/nq]
Yeah, that one does seem to fit, thanks.
Ian
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[nq:1]..[/nq]
I agree. It's also like saying "the whole ball of wax".
Best,
Erick Andrews
delete bogus to reply
I agree. It's also like saying "the whole ball of wax".
Best,
Erick Andrews
delete bogus to reply
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[nq:1]He's going the full nine yards on this issue I intend to go the full nine yards on this one[/nq]
It's US hyperbole. The equivalent British phrase would be 'going the whole nine inches'.
Paul Burke
It's US hyperbole. The equivalent British phrase would be 'going the whole nine inches'.
Paul Burke
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[nq:1]The expression is the "whole nine yards." No one in America uses "full." Maybe you can change it when it ... The most likely, IMO, is that it is the length of an ammunition belt for an automatic weapon (machine gun).[/nq]
The whole nine yards is pretty long for any old machine gun. Certainly too unwieldy for use by the army. I heard that it was the length of the ammo belts of the guns in
The whole nine yards is pretty long for any old machine gun. Certainly too unwieldy for use by the army. I heard that it was the length of the ammo belts of the guns in
00
[nq:1]The expression is the "whole nine yards." No one in America uses "full." Maybe you can change it when it ... The most likely, IMO, is that it is the length of an ammunition belt for an automatic weapon (machine gun).[/nq]
Alas no one seems to know where the saying came from. The first known use appeared in a book in the 1960s, which tends to rule out a 1940s coining. Numerous discussions
Alas no one seems to know where the saying came from. The first known use appeared in a book in the 1960s, which tends to rule out a 1940s coining. Numerous discussions
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[nq:1]It's US hyperbole. The equivalent British phrase would be 'going the whole nine inches'. Paul Burke[/nq]
" Only in the mating season . . . ."
(Spike Milligan)
Ian
" Only in the mating season . . . ."
(Spike Milligan)
Ian
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