Brownie points

[sagehen]

>Douglas G. Wilson wrote
>
>> During WW II, in 1943 and 1944, there was a system of rationing of
>> food, gasoline, tires, shoes, etc., in the US. In order to buy a
>> rationed item one would have to pay its price AND fork over a specified
>> number of ration "points" in the form of stamps or tokens (which were
>> issued to the citizen or household by the government). For meats and
>> fats there were red and brown points, for some other foods green and
>> blue.
>
>I've also just found a reference to something called War merit points
>at that time, which young people could earn by being helpful; 500 of
>them would get them a War Patriot's Certificate. So the idea of
>points was most definitely in the air, though so far I've only found
>a reference to this particular sort of point from Alabama, so it
>might have been a local initiative.
>
>Michael Quinion
 ~~~~~~~~~~~
I well remember the ration books, stamps & points for meat, canned
goods,gas,  & some clothing.  I don't remember "brownie points" being used
in this connection, which of course doesn't mean anything in itself, not
least because I don't remember hearing the expression at all until years
later.

Whatever its ultimate derivation, I daresay its connotation probably varies
a lot from user to user. When I hear it (or use it), it suggests contempt
& I assume a connection to "brown nose."

BTW that grease we recycled during WWII was mostly used for the making of
glycerin, I believe.

A. Murie