[Ads-l] The juice isn't worth the squeeze.

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Interesting phrase, JL. Here is an earlier match.

Date: August 18, 1972
Newspaper: The Evening Sun
Newspaper Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Article: Local Schoolbus-Body Firms Score County's Purchase From Indiana Company
Author: Jeff Valentine
Quote Page C2, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/372295753/

[Begin excerpt]
"Frankly, there isn't much anybody can do about it now," the bus
executive reflected. "I don't think the juice would be worth the
squeeze to go back now and rebid the contract."
[End excerpt]

Here is a precursor joke from 1857.

Date: May 8, 1857
Newspaper: The Daily Bee
Newspaper Location: Sacramento, California
Article: San Francisco Wit
Quote Page 1, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/image/624039770/

[Begin excerpt]
San Francisco Wit.--The Evening Ledger of yesterday says:
...
Why is a sucked orange like an old maid? Because it isn't worth a squeeze.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sun, Nov 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM Jonathan Lighter
<00001aad181a2549-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> I've heard talking heads use this phrase several times lately
>
> 1982 _Sun_ (Baltimore) (Feb. 20) 10: I believe the inconveniences and
> distortions of the auto emissions inspection law easily outweigh the
> alleged benefits. The juice simply isn't worth the squeeze.
>
> Etc.
>
> JL
>
> --
> "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