[Ads-l] leave it all on the field

[Jonathan Lighter]

But *what* is being left on the field? If the phrase suggests anything to
me, it's the idea that any ill feelings should be left on the field.

Not at all what is meant now.

JL

On Sat, Nov 12, 2016 at 10:51 AM, Charles C Doyle <cdoyle at uga.edu> wrote:

> It's an old expression beloved of football coaches and sportscasters.
>
>
> --Charlie
>
> ________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2016 8:32:47 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: leave it all on the field
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      leave it all on the field
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------
>
> Hillary Clinton told her campaign workers, "You left it all on the field,
> every single one of you."
>
> Despite what you might think, "leaving everything on the field" is a *good*
> thing.  It means bringing everything to bear, going all out - though I'd
> like to know why.
>
> I first heard the phrase some months ago (from Kellyanne Conway, IIRC), in
> the form "We're going to leave everything on the field."
>
> JL
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
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> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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