[Ads-l] "big cheese" 1815

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Thanks for your comments and citations, Steven and JL. Apologies for
not looking in the wonderful Green's Dictionary of Slang database.
Here are links to the full article and details for the 1885 citation
listed in GDoS.

Date: September 5, 1885
Newspaper: The Observer and Free Lance
Newspaper location: Auckland, New Zealand
Article: KATIKATI KALLS
Quote Page 4, Column 2

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO18850905.2.7.11
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/observer/1885/09/05/4

[Begin excerpt]
What attraction is there for Ken. at the manager's? Is it to see that
big cheese?

Archibald, standing on a beer cask, is backed by Mac at the rate of 5
to 1 against all comers for stowing away 'long-sleevers.'
[End excerpt]
Garson

On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 5:01 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Need I add that I'm skeptical of both the Scottish and Kiwi exx.?
>
> Especially since "Big Highland Cheese" includes a very unusual tmesis,
> which seems to suggest that "big cheese" was already lexicalized and
> familiar.
>
> Just my 2c.
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 3:51 PM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > FWIW, big cheeses were sometimes a big deal.
> >
> > 1802 The Wasp (Hudson, N.Y.) (July 31) 2: The following Toast, drank [sic]
> > by the Cheshire folks, who made the big Cheese [sic] for Mr.
> > Jefferson....May the splendour of the Republican SUN continue to eclipse
> > the twinklings of the Western Lightning Bug.
> >
> > 1828 Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Phila.) (Nov. 14, 1828) 3: "A
> > BIG CHEESE. The Berkshire American states that Mr. Israel Cole, of North
> > Adams, has made a "hundred pound cheese to be presented to Jackson in case
> > he was elected President."
> >
> > 1885 Buffalo [N.Y.] Evening News (Nov. 7) 4: "FREE SHOW!" The Two Big
> > Cheese [sic] CITY OF BUFFALO, 3398 lbs.,  VILLAGE OF AURORA 3394 lbs., Are
> > now on exhibition at our store.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Mon, May 29, 2023 at 2:14 PM Steven Losie <stevenlosie at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> In case nobody has seen it, Green's Dictionary of Slang cites an 1885
> >> newspaper article in New Zealand for "big cheese":
> >>
> >> [begin quote]
> >> What attraction is there for Ken at the manager’s? Is it to see that big
> >> cheese?
> >> [end quote]
> >> Source: Observer and Freelance (Wellington, NZ) 5 Sept. 1885 p.4/2
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> >
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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