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<blockquote type="cite" cite>>Douglas G. Wilson wrote<br>
><br>
>> During WW II, in 1943 and 1944, there was a system of
rationing of<br>
>> food, gasoline, tires, shoes, etc., in the US. In order to
buy a<br>
>> rationed item one would have to pay its price AND fork over a
specified<br>
>> number of ration "points" in the form of stamps or
tokens (which were<br>
>> issued to the citizen or household by the government). For
meats and<br>
>> fats there were red and brown points, for some other foods
green and<br>
>> blue.<br>
><br>
>I've also just found a reference to something called War merit
points<br>
>at that time, which young people could earn by being helpful; 500
of<br>
>them would get them a War Patriot's Certificate. So the idea
of<br>
>points was most definitely in the air, though so far I've only
found<br>
>a reference to this particular sort of point from Alabama, so
it<br>
>might have been a local initiative.<br>
><br>
>Michael Quinion<br>
~~~~~~~~~~~<br>
I well remember the ration books, stamps & points for meat,
canned<br>
goods,gas, & some clothing. I don't remember
"brownie points" being used<br>
in this connection, which of course doesn't mean anything in itself,
not<br>
least because I don't remember hearing the expression at all until
years<br>
later.<br>
<br>
Whatever its ultimate derivation, I daresay its connotation probably
varies<br>
a lot from user to user. When I hear it (or use it), it suggests
contempt<br>
& I assume a connection to "brown nose."<br>
<br>
BTW that grease we recycled during WWII was mostly used for the making
of<br>
glycerin, I believe.<br>
<br>
A. Murie</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>I grew up with the phrase "brownie points", so I asked
my mom what her recollection of the term was. Her report
follows:</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote>I heard of brownie points in the 1930's [she was born in
1925], and I believe they were points accumulated by selling magazine
subscriptions (The Saturday Evening Post). They were redeemed
for premiums, perhaps wagons or bicycles. Even then I think
brownie points became generic for good deeds that would bring
rewards. Your Dad told a "joke" that 99 brownie points
could be wiped out by one "aw shucks." It was common
to speak of getting or losing brownie points.</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>I have never had an association of the term with "brown
noser". Brownie points are good things!</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Barbara</div>
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