Wheeling and dealing

[Michael Quinion]

A rather inclusive discussion took place here several years ago, with one
suggestion being that it was from gambling in the Old West (ie roulette
wheels and card dealing). A World Wide Words reader asked about it and the
evidence I've found suggests that, more mundanely, it comes from the motor
trade in the 1930s. I've written it up here: http:/wwwords.org/whdl.

Comments would be very welcome!

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Michael Quinion
World Wide Words
Web: http://www.worldwidewords.org

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