[Ads-l] bite at the apple

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> Not in OED:
> 'Opportunity to accomplish one's (often unfair) aim'
>
> Prominent Tweeter today:
>
> "Highly conflicted Robert Mueller should not be given another bite at the
> apple."
>
> 1920 _Christian Science Monitor_ (March 31) 8: A Bite at the Apple   While
> fully appreciating the desire of the employers to take one bite at the
> apple, to settle the vexed problem on a national basis and with a universal
> standard ....
>
> 1963  _The [Baltimore] Sun_ (Apr. 25) 48: Mr. Sweeney argued that the
> intent of the election laws is "to give a man only one bite at the apple,
> and said a Kentucky decision held that to permit a defeated candidate to
> become a nominee of a political party "is not consonant with good faith and
> fair dealing."

Date: September 24, 1885
Newspaper: The Altoona Times
Newspaper Location: Altoona, Pennsylvania
Article: Pennsylvania Aid To Mahone
Quote Page 2, Column 3
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
Now Blaine wants to break up the solid South and capture it if he can,
and that is why he is helping his old opponents."
This was indeed awful to think of.
"Is Blaine trying to engineer things so he can get another bite at the
apple?" was asked of one of the most prominent Blaine men in the city.
"No; of course not!" was the answer in a tone of disgusted surprise.
[End excerpt]

James G. Blaine was a failed candidate for U.S. President in 1884. I
admit that I have not read the article carefully enough to be sure
that "Blaine" in the article refers to James G. Blaine.

Garson

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