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Prestograph Poetry:
One Phrase Origin "The Whole Nine Yards" Jay W. Preston (10/2004)
"The whole nine yards" Is a question for bards While this phrase’s origin’s a mystery. Perhaps I can find The source of the line, And carve out a niche in some history
On gridiron field, The solution must yield. Those nine to keep ball in play. But why only nine, When ten is the line? First down is full ten yards away.
Some say it’s a reference To some frequent occurrence Of yardarms upon a sea vessel, Or it might refer In a linguistic blur, Perhaps to the size of a sail.
They say the phrasing Was first in the saying, Back in the early mid-sixties Too late for square rigging, But encouraging digging In the argot and jargon of cities.
Others it seems, Eschew the abstract, Citing volume of a mixer’s drum. But this concrete statement Leaves them only lament, As volumes ‘most all vary some.
The size of a bolt To tailor a suit Has folks on Saville row abuzz Armani, Zilioni, and the word on the street, Consigns this lint with the fuzz.
One quite intriguing Involves some sharpshooting. Machine guns and tommies, to boot. The length of a belt, Ammo, it’s felt, Could lead us to this saying’s root.
The issue of brides, As we search far and wide, Is yet another branch of our quest. Nine yards for a train. It seems quite insane, As our hopes sink like sun in the west. |
Copyright 2004-2008, Jay W. Preston email: prestonoid (at) aol.com |