the whole, how shall we say, nine yards

[Jesse Sheidlower]

Yes, that sounds like it. Thanks for being my memory, Dave!

Jesse

On Wed, Sep 05, 2012 at 05:02:51PM -0400, Dave Wilton wrote:
> I believe the "unreliable" book is the Facts-On-File Encyclopedia of Word
> Origins, first edition. If I remember correctly, the second edition is much
> improved, or at least doesn't make this claim.
>
> That's what Jesse told me the book was when I asked years ago, and indeed,
> the book does date the term to the 1950s, but provides no citation or
> reference. (I no longer have my copy.)
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Jesse Sheidlower
> Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 8:58 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: the whole, how shall we say, nine yards
>
> On Wed, Sep 05, 2012 at 11:49:06AM +0000, Stephen Goranson wrote:
> >
> > In Nov. 1997 The Maven's Word of the Day, Jesse Sheidlower wrote: "(An
> > unreliable book has claimed that it dates from the 1950s, which is
> > itself not that implausible.)" What book is that? Is that book now
> > worth a second look or was it just guessing, relying on vague memory?
>
> Stephen,
>
> I don't remember what book that was, but I think it was just some pop
> language book, and I'm sure it was just making it up. If there had been
> anything to follow, I would have made a note of it.
>
> Jesse Sheidlower
> OED
>
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