[Ads-l] hit the ground running

[James Eric Lawson]

Title:	   Sermons and sayings. First series / by Sam P. Jones ;
            edited by W. M. Leftwich.
Author:    Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906.
Publisher: Nashville, Tenn. : Southern Methodist Pub. House, 1885.
            https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015063595501

I don't know what has become of all of those correspondents that filled 
the daily papers. Why don't they sail in now? And if any correspondent 
sails in let him sail in over his own name. If I can get him up here and 
shake him you will see him hit the ground running. You can't shake a nom 
de plume much, though.

Sam Jones also seems to have popularized "a hit dog will holler".

On 1/17/21 7:13 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> 1895: OED
> 
> 1885 _Indianapolis Journal _ (June 6) 11: All I have to say is sign
> your name to what you write and by the time I get through with you
> you'll hit the ground running. [Laughter].
> 
> JL
> 

-- 
James Eric Lawson
Tacoma, Washington

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