shovel-ready (1995)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 1:05 AM, Benjamin Zimmer
<bgzimmer at babel.ling.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
> In my latest Word Routes column I make a last-minute WOTY pitch for
> "shovel-ready":

And it ended up winning in the Most Likely to Succeed category.

> http://staging.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wordroutes/1652/

Sorry, here's the correct link:

http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wordroutes/1652/

> The earliest cites I've found so far are from 1995:
>
> ---
> 1995 _Worcester Telegram & Gazette_ 22 Feb. (Factiva) Brewer noted that
> projects seeking approval from the state Board of Education have to be
> "shovel ready."
> ---
> 1995 _Worcester Telegram & Gazette_ 27 Feb. A8 (Factiva) The fast-track
> agenda is prompted by an effort to meet a June 1 application deadline, when
> school building plans must be submitted - "shovel ready" - to be considered
> for 90 percent state reimbursement.
> ---

--Ben Zimmer

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