[Ads-l] leave it all on the field

[Laurence Horn]

> On Nov 12, 2016, at 11:32 AM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> 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

No, it's the *effort* that they expended--they gave it 110% on the field, they didn't hold anything back, etc.


> 
> 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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>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> 
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