"paper-pusher"

[Dennis R. Preston]

Maurer's 'paper-pusher' depends on the meaning of "paper" as bad
checks (or securities, etc...) and "push" in the sense of "foist off
on the unsuspecting." The other 'paper-push" derives from tedious
office routine (pushing stuff around from one pile to the other).
There is probably no connection here.

dInIs

>Here are a couple; in the second cite, the term seems to mean
>something similar to "pencil pusher."
>
>PAPERHANGER.  A professional who passes forged checks.
>Also _kid-glove worker_, _passer_, _paper-pusher_, _pusher_,
>_shover_, the last three terms being reserved for men who pass
>counterfeit money.
>
>by D.W. Maurer
>Univ. of Louisville
>American Speech
>December, 1941
>page 248
>
>
>In twenty minutes McCollum had drawn out the facts of Bert's
>epxerience in and out of school, and had determined to his own
>satisfaction that Bert would never be any good as a lawyer or in
>fact as any kind of a _paper-pusher_; . . .
>
>Walter V. Bingham
>Infantry Journal
>October, 1942
>Page 25
>
>On 18 Jun 2005, at 17:16, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
>>  Can anyone find a pre-1944 ex. "paper-pusher" and/or "paper-pushing"?
>>
>>  JL
>>
>
>Joanne Despres
>Merriam-Webster


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
Morrill Hall 15-C
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
Office: (517) 432-3791
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