"Oh fay" = "au fait" (1899)

[Laurence Horn]

At 12:13 AM -0400 10/3/04, Douglas G. Wilson wrote:
>>From N'archive: here is "oh fay", presumably an alternate spelling of "au
>fait" = "appropriate"/"in style",


and obviously the contrary of its ablaut variant, "oy veh"

>referring to attire:
>
>----------
>
>_Marion [OH] Daily Star_, 29 July 1899: p. 3, col. 4:
>
>[Title: "New King of the Dudes"]
>
><<"Bathhouse John" Coughlin, alderman from de Foist woid of Chicago, ... is
>going to Atlantic City to "paralyze the dudes" .... Friends of the
>"Bathhouse" who have seen his new wardrobe say it is the hottest that ever
>happened .... / [description of his green suit and fancy accessories] /
>"Quit pumpin' hot air," replied the "Bathhouse." "I wouldn't wear 'em to a
>primary, but they're 'oh fay' fer Atlantic City.">>
>
>----------
>
>I've found a couple of other instances of "au fait" spelled "oh fay" in the
>late 19th century.
>
>-- Doug Wilson