A Snowball's Chance

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 00:27:12 -0500, Mullins, Bill wrote:

>THAT ELECTION CASE. The Atlanta Constitution (1881-2001); Nov 24, 1890;
>pg. 4 col 5.
>"It is true that Mr. Norman came to Atlanta instructed to vote for Mr.
>Norwood, and he did vote so on the call of the roll, but after the roll
>cale was over and he saw that Norwood's chances were about like a
>snowball's chances in the nether regions, he exercised what he considered
>his right and voted for Gordon as his second choice, and it was his vote
>that elected Gordon, too."

Washington Post, Oct 31, 1878, p. 2/1
He [sc. George Gorham] told his colleagues that the Republican candidates
in South Carolina "had no more show than a snowball in hell."

Chicago Daily Tribune, Nov 7, 1878, p. 4/7
Before election Gorham was appealed to for money to expend in South
Carolina in behalf of the Republican candidates. He refused, saying that,
under existing circumstances, "a Republican in South Carolina had no more
show than a snowball in hell."

Washington Post, Nov 22, 1878, p. 2/3
And now, with ominous murmurs on every hand, they fly in the face of
public sentiment and provoke a conflict in which they will not have a
thousandth part of the show that would be enjoyed by "a snowball in hell."

Atchison (Kansas) Globe, Jan 30, 1884, p. 1/5
You should not say that "he has no more show than a snow ball in
purgatory;" the latest is, "he has no more show than a drunken man on a
bicycle."

New York Times, Jun 27, 1888, p. 1/7
They are not all as positive as John O'Leary, who told a reporter that the
ticket had "no more chance than a snowball in hell," but they are
sufficiently gloomy to show that it will be necessary to do a great deal
of talking for the ticket bfore it will be supported with the zeal
displayed on behalf of Blaine and Logan.

Atlanta Constitution, Oct 2, 1888, p. 5/3
"I question the sincerity of the movement," concluded the speaker in his
inimitable fashion, "because everybody knows that this third party has no
more chance down here than a snowball has in perdition."

Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisc.) Jan. 17, 1889, p. 4/2
"Why," said Mr. Casey, "the city stands no more show of winning the case
with that jury than a snow ball would in Hades."


--Ben Zimmer