not too shabby (1969)

[Mullins, Bill]

 Theater: Hermione Baddeley Speaks to a Lobster
By VINCENT CANBY
New York Times (1857-Current file); Feb 6, 1968; ProQuest Historical
Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2001)
pg. 36/3
"Neither Miss Baddely, done up in what looks to be a gray wig and not overly
frumpy dress, nor Stewart Chaney, who provided the elaborately realistic set
represtenting the charwoman's not too shabby flat, can give real life to a
play which, actually is just one long gust of exposition."




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Benjamin Zimmer [mailto:bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU]
> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 5:16 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: not too shabby (1969)
>
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at RCI.RUTGERS.EDU>
> Subject:      not too shabby (1969)
> --------------------------------------------------------------
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>
> OED3 has 1975 for the litotic phrase "not (too) shabby".
>
>
> Great Bend (Kansas) Daily Tribune, Apr 22, 1969, p. 6 The
> Black Panthers' 880-yard relay quartet of Bruce Huss, Jim
> Greene, Bob Oliver and Robinson grabbed another first in the
> not-too-shabby time of 1:32.3.
>
> (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin) Daily Tribune, Nov 12, 1969, p.
> 7 But Coatta said Wisconsin's passing game was not too shabby.
>
> Great Bend (Kansas) Daily Tribune, Dec 2, 1969, p. 6
> Actually, that isn't too shabby an effort for one of the
> youngest basketball teams of its kind in the state.
>
> Great Bend (Kansas) Daily Tribune, Dec 4, 1969, p. 6 His
> defensive work wasn't at all shabby Tuesday.
>
> Great Bend (Kansas) Daily Tribune, Dec 11, 1969, p. 6 The
> Buffaloes' Stark grabbed 27 points in their 67-55 triumph
> over Dodge City Tuesday night to give him a 24-point average
> in two league games. Not too shabby.
>
>
> --Ben Zimmer
>