[Ads-l] Quote Origin: When You Are Up To Your Ass in Alligators, It Is Hard To Remember That Your Original Intention Was To Drain the Swamp

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

I received a request to explore the provenance of the saying in the
subject line. The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs has an entry with
citations beginning in 1971. Barry Popik has an entry for "drain the
swamp" which contains citations for this saying beginning on April 20,
1970.

Here is a link to the QI article followed by an overview with dates:
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/04/16/alligator-drain/

1970 Apr 18: When a man is up to his shirt tail in alligators, he has
difficulty reminding himself his initial objective was to drain the
swamp.

1970 May 24: When you are up to your ears in alligators, it is
difficult to remind yourself that your initial objective was to drain
the swamp."

1970 Jun 25: When you are up to your waist in alligators, it is
difficult to remind yourself that your initial objective was to drain
the swamp.

1970 Jul 7: When you're up to your hips in alligators, it's difficult
to remind yourself that the original objective was to drain the swamp.

1970 Jul 8: When you are up to your neck in alligators, it is
difficult to remember that the original objective was to drain the
swamp!

1970 Sep 23: When you're up to your ass in alligators, it is difficult
to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swamp.

1970 Nov 10: When you are up to your knees in alligators -- it is
difficult to remember that your original objective was to drain the
swamp.

1971 Feb 21: When you are up to your elbows in alligators, it is
difficult to remind yourself that your initial objective was to drain
the swamp.

1971 Mar 15: When you're up to your armpits in alligators, it's very
hard to remember that the objective was to drain the swamp.

1971 May 7: When you are, up to your backside in alligators, it is
difficult to remind yourself that your initial objective was to drain
the swamp.

Earlier citations and feedback welcome
Garson

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