[Antedating] "All nine yards" [1962]

Benjamin Zimmer bgzimmer at BABEL.LING.UPENN.EDU
Tue Nov 13 05:02:12 UTC 2007


On Nov 12, 2007 8:12 PM, Bonnie Taylor-Blake <taylor-blake at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> From Gale F. Linster's letter to the editor, "Constructive Criticism," *Car
> Life* Vol. 9, Issue 11 (December 1962), Pg. 2:
>
> "When you decide what extra cost equipment the American car buyer would like
> to hear about, each of the models tested should be so equipped.  Your staff
> of testers cannot fairly and equitably appraise the Chevrolet Impala sedan,
> with all nine yards of goodies, against the Plymouth Savoy which has
> straight shift and none of the mechanical conveniences which are quite
> common now.  The cars tested should be as nearly alike as possible."

Now on Language Log:

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/005107.html


--Ben Zimmer

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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