Reader Opinions
Autumn Brown – (to the nines) February 4, 2021
Raymond,
I thought the whole nine yards was in reference to machine guns. The length of the bullets “belt” being nine yards long and using the whole thing.
Good to learn a different meaning!
Thanks for sharing.
Anonymous – (eat crow) February 3, 2021
Does it mean that you admit that you were wrong?
Stone Vaan Horne – (everything but the kitchen sink) February 3, 2021
Sears Roebucks sold mail order homes through their catalogue 1900-1937.
The advertising stated, “Everything is included, even the kitchen sink.” This made apprehensive buyers feel at ease knowing there was very little guesswork involved in ordering a Sears home. Sears promoted this all inclusive home value to sell what furnished the interior of the homes. i.e. everything from tea cups to a grand 12 piece dining room suite. The depression destroyed the industry when the economy crashed.
This is where the term came from.
Darlene Sierocuk – (fake it till you make it) January 31, 2021
It is also used in the management of depression. Even if you are too depressed to care.
Edwin Hebda – (if it’s not one thing, it’s the other) January 31, 2021
Best version: If it’s not one thing, it’s another thing, but it’s always something.
Andy – (on one’s uppers) January 31, 2021
I just wrote a joke meme about a friend whose shoes wore out being ‘on his uppers.’ Now I find that’s what the phrase meant in the first place, LOL!
*DOI !!!*
Anonymous – (armed to the teeth) January 31, 2021
“Three Sword Style!” – Roronoa Zoro, ‘One Piece’
Miss D M Bliss – (salad days) January 31, 2021
Maybe people began using the idiom because they began reading Shakespeare where it was used by Cleopatra in Anthony and Cleopatra?
Anthony – (down to earth) January 29, 2021
Maybe with inner city housing transforming to high rise flats/units, being down to earth was used as an expression of when living “closer” to our neighbours allowed us to be more sociable and empathic member of society. Living in a high rise, well above the street tends to gives the impression that you are somehow out of touch or aloof of your fellow humans. Therefore being down to earth means to be understanding, empathic and more sociable. Just a guess!
Anonymous – (add insult to injury) January 28, 2021
I think it came from “adding salt to injury” and then it became “add insult to injury”
