"The lights out"

[Jonathan Lighter]

Maybe an unexpected development of  "punch someone's lights out" (punch them unconscious, or at least helpless) > "pitch (someone's / their) lights out" > "pitch lights-out."


JL


bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: bapopik at AOL.COM
Subject: "The lights out"
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Anyone have any ideas?
...
--Barry Popik (who has lots of free time)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jafinder
To: Bapopik
Sent: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 4:55:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Subject: A question from Henry Finder's brother


Barry -- I'm writing at the suggestion of my brother. I'm trying to find the origin/derivation of the baseball cliche "lights out," as in:

"He pitched lights out in September for us last year, too," said Giants GM Brian Sabean. (ESPN).

But as Joe Sheehan noted Monday, the Indians bullpen has pitched lights-out. (baseballprospectus.com)

Obviously it means "really well," but where from? And is it hyphenated, properly? I've asked Roger Angell and Nicky Dawidoff, and neither knows.
many thanks,
Joe Finder



www.josephfinder.com


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