Nothing beats "homemade" (was Ugly as homemade sin (1890))

[Dennis R. Preston]

I am a more frequent user of the variant "homemade shit" myself,
though not with "ugly." It wonders me that "homemade" is simply an
aggrandizer which can be inserted in the slot indicated in the as X
as _ Y formula (alternatively Xer than _ Y), e.g., ugly as (homemade)
sin, dumber'n (homemade) shit, with perhaps some semantic
restrictions (no count nouns?), e.g., *as big as a homemade horse and
some pragmatic ones (no complimentary or even neutral expressions?),
e.g., *as easy as homemade pie.

I suspect a connection with "downhome" or even simply "home," which
suggests authenticity or nitty-gritty, so that such expression tell
us that somebody is not just as dumb as any old (maybe even [shudder]
storebought) shit but as dumb as the real thing (i.e., homemade).

dInIs


UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN

    Nothing beats homemade.

(WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM)("homemade")
Ironwood Daily Globe - 12/11/1967
...she works with." This means, "She's UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN.' "She is eAS
y-going, low-key.....L Voyce My two them it is all right with me AS
long AS they
act like responsible citizens.....of Ewen High School and is eniployed AS
secretary at the Dynamatic Division of..
Ironwood, Michigan Monday, December 11, 1967  794 k

Newark Daily Advocate - 8/16/1896
...that wus lazy AS er fattenin hog an UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN. 'Twus that way
she got her come.....uppance. Besides keepin her po' AS Job's turkey he turned
out ter be AS mean.....enthusiASm of horsemanship The motion wAS AS unlike AS
possible to Blacky's coblike.....yo' eoul, she Icved to be waited on same AS
ef she owned 20 niggers. AS I started ter..
Newark, Ohio Sunday, August 16, 1896  857 k

Gazette And Bulletin - 1/24/1945
...wai described AS red middleaged and UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN. (Erlenbush wAS
in the thick of.....is somewhat of a gamble, with the weather AS the .chief
determining factor in suen U.S.....of acres of land jsed by the government AS a
site tor the Pennsylvania Ordnance Works..
Williamsport, Pennsylvania Wednesday, January 24, 1945  856 k

Daily Times News - 1/13/1972
...Strong AS an ox. .Play possum. .UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN. .Hook, line and SIN
ker. .Work.....candidates and those in office is not AS simple AS publicly
identifying private.....identify themselves with private interests AS long AS
those interests are not in.....Parting Shots Remember, only a country
AS rich AS
the United States could afford to..
Burlington, North Carolina   Thursday, January 13, 1972  670 k

Holland Evening Sentinel - 12/11/1967
...works with." jThis means, ''She's UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN." "She is eAS
y-going, low-key.....of the chores performed I by WAShington. i AS far AS many
millions of citizens are.....us to keep an eye on what we spend at
home AS well AS
that which we. spend in WAShington.....and he gets an allowance, which is
almost AS much AS my salary, but he never seems to..
Holland, Michigan Monday, December 11, 1967  856 k

Lima News - 1/18/1972
...If Olivia de Havilland were AS UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN, still she'd be hard
to resist.....your mental machinery. This means marijuana AS well AS harder
stuff. And even if you can.....of trouble over this question. I'll put it AS
simply AS possible. Is it fair for a woman..
Lima, Ohio Tuesday, January 18, 1972  585 k

Coshocton Tribune - 12/11/1967
...she works with." This means, "She's UGLY AS HOMEMADE SIN." "She is eAS
y-going, low-key.....service, every Sunday ette. (morning AS well AS
training Both
Miss Adams and Mr. i.....help you find and claim the Bible promises AS yours,
bringing you joy and peace and..
Coshocton, Ohio Monday, December 11, 1967  915 k


(WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM)("home made")
Lima News - 9/14/1936
...to use the old expression, AS UGLY AS HOME-MADE SIN. And the proof of this
lies in.....AJTSWEM Blood Tonic la It possible to your ,HOME MADE blood tonic
so long AS to become.....10 'bbag 19c Potatoes Quality, Feck 43c HOME MADE
Cookies 2 do, 25c Valley Maid Oleo.....The benefits of advertiSINg had MADE
themselves manifest in each step forward..
Lima, Ohio Monday, September 14, 1936  763 k

Middletown Times Herald - 3/22/1932
...for leather scrappers, and both are UGLY AS HOME MADE SIN. tiring the
first seven Yankees.....he's bathed and dressed and headed for HOME.
The boys have
but two in common. Both.....GIANTS TAKE T1CFJGU3 LOS ANGKU23 Giants MADE It
two in a. rov over Uiff Detroit.....runs chASed across the plate. Gehj rig's
HOME run with two men on. wAS the bissest..
Middletown, New York   Tuesday, March 22, 1932  811 k

Lafayette Advertiser - 12/20/1890
...have, ma'am1. Ai boy sed yer wuz UGLY AS HOME MADE SIN an' I jest gave it
to him. I.....s immensely rich.. do you Clerk is old and UGLY, and wifo is
young and York v' WASTED.....awoke to consciousness again. He wAS at
his HOME in
Tomsburg. Two sweet faces were.....foot upon the -sand, go v Wlien Sim had
MADE known what his sister had eaid, another..
Lafayette, Louisiana Saturday, December 20, 1890  861 k

Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune - 9/16/1936
...to use the old expression, AS UGLY AS HOME-MADE SIN. And the proof of this
lies in.....a threa-day visit at tea William Btissell HOME. Sprague Duke
Harrison MADE a buSINess I.....2 Forearm bone. 3 Observed. 4 Bird's HOME. 5
Bundle. 6 SINce. 7 Fiber knots. Gives.....Monte Blaine i air. There wAS a
missionary, HOME f deed he had once been heard to say..
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Wednesday, September 16, 1936  895 k

Sandusky Daily Register - 7/22/1890
...Yes, ma'am. A boy sed yer wuz UGLY AS HOME MADE SIN, an' I Jest give it to
him.....Parker travels alone, and wAS on his way HOME after a swing
around-the circle, his.....of One Dollar and upwards received Loans
MADE on short and
long time upon rea state.....Epiphany. Some time ago Dr. Burtsell wAS MADE
defender of the marriage tie, being the..
Sandusky, Ohio Tuesday, July 22, 1890  1184 k

Sandusky Daily Register - 7/25/1890
...Yes, ma'am. A boy sed yor wuz UGLY AS HOME MADE SIN, an' I jesi give it to
him.....took all the snap out t' Samson, Johnnie A HOME MADE air cut, Yonkere
Statesman.....intelligence and morality of tho people. HOME of our little
cities are beyond.....in a considerable degree by the charges MADE against the
defendant.and hence the..
Sandusky, Ohio Friday, July 25, 1890  1122 k