oops

[Laurence Horn]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at yale.edu>
> Date: August 21, 2012 11:56:54 PM EDT
> To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: "right back at you"
> 
> Watching "Guilty Hands", a 1931 movie with a "perfect crime" theme shown on TCM, I was wondering about an exchange between the Richard Grant, the murderer (and former D.A.), played by John Barrymore

I meant *Lionel* Barrymore, a.k.a. Mr. Potter.  I hate when that happens.

LH

> , and the chief of police (an old colleague of his) whom he welcomes to his house, where the murder has just taken place.  Grant/Barrymore, coming down the stairs, cheerfully greets him:
> 
> Richard Grant: "Well, well, well, Bill Mott!"
> Bill Mott:        "Right back atcha, Dickie!" 
> 
> I didn't realize this use of "Right back at you" (or "atcha", with allegro palatalization) was around in 1931.  Anyone know when it began?  
> 
> LH

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