Do you know the origin of the term "the whole nine yards"?

Question

to get best answer, plz give a good explanation - good luck!

Answer 1

"the whole nine yards" is a term used to describe... well... Giving it all... it was taken from WW2 B-17 gunners who had a string of bullets that fed into their guns that measured nine yards long.. so in the war you would shot all the bullets.. all nine yards of bullets... you gave the enemy ships [or planes][or solderers][or "whoever it was you were shooting].. all you had

-shamar [yeah i give "Yahoo! Answers" "the whole nine yards"!!!

Answer 2

One of the most common explanations for the phrase's origin is that the expression dates from the Second World War, where "nine yards" was the length of an aircraft machine-gun ammunition belt, and to "go the full nine yards" was to use it up entirely. However, machine-gun ammunition belts were not nine yards long, and the expression has been reliably dated back only to early 1964, in U.S. Space Program slang.[1] It was also apparently popular among Air Force personnel in Vietnam.[2] By November 1967 it was recorded in use in the U.S. Army, likewise from Vietnam, and by mid-1969 was appearing in newspaper advertisements in the United States.[3] The first citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1970, in the magazine Word Watching.[4] Whilst no written occurrences have been found predating 1964, a number of anecdotal recollections suggest the phrase dates back at least a further decade, potentially into the 1940s. One of the better-documented cases is provided by Captain Richard Stratton, who recorded in 2005 that he encountered the phrase during naval flight training in Florida in July 1955 as part of a ribald story about a mythical Scotsman.[5] It has been suggested that there is strong circumstantial evidence it was not in general use in 1961, as Ralph Boston set a world record for the long jump that year at 27 feet, or nine yards, but no news report has been found that made any reference to the term, suggesting that journalists were unaware of it or did not regard it as common enough to use as a pun.[6] Of course, popular etymology has risen to the challenge; a vast number of explanations have been put forward to explain the purported origins of the term. Suggested sources have been as diverse as the volume of graves or concrete mixers; the length of bridal veils, kilts, burial shrouds, bolts of cloth, or saris; American football; ritual disembowelment; and the structure of certain sailing vessels. Little documentary evidence has ever surfaced supporting any of these, and many labour under the significant disadvantage of being several centuries earlier than the first recorded use of the term.

Answer 3

The phrase "the whole nine yards" means "completely, the whole, everything" - e.g.:

"I was mugged. They took my wallet, my keys, my shoes, my coat - the whole nine yards!"

The origins of the expression are unknown, but various theories are popularly held as to the root of it. One of the more common of these is that the expression dates from the Second World War, where the "nine yards" was the full length of a machine-gun ammunition belt, and to "go the full nine yards" was to use it up in its entirety. The expression, however, has only been dated back to 1966 (in U.S. Air Force slang recorded in Vietnam) and it is unlikely it could have been in common use in the 1940s without being recorded either then or in the next twenty years.

The phrase could also be attributed to the tailoring industry, in which a quality suit of clothing required nine yards of material. To tailor a quality suit "takes the whole nine yards."

Other suggested origins have included sources as diverse as the size of cement mixers, the length of bridal veils, the manufacture of kilts, the length of cloth bolts, and the structure of certain sailing vessels (where "yard" is short for yardarm, not for the distance).

Another explanation is that the term is a sarcastic reference to American football, where ten yards is the length of a first down. With running nine yards being no real achievement, to say that someone ran 'the whole nine yards' would be to say that they almost achieved something.

Answer 4

Fabric used to come on rolls of 9 yards. Most people only needed a little of course, but when they would need it all, they would take "the whole nine yards", thus the saying. Dates to when most people made thier own clothes, has nothing to do with football like most people think.

Answer 5

Yes - 9 yards equals a whole roll (bolt) of fabric. When a woman wanted a super fancy dress they went the whole 9 yards and used up the bolt.

Peace!

Answer 6

In WWII, "Nine Yards" was the length of an average machine gun ammunition belt. To go "the whole nine yards" was to use up the whole belt on the enemy.

Answer 7

many years ago, clothes were custom tailored. 9 yards of cloth on a roll. to "use the whole 9 yards" meant spare no expense, get the best.

Answer 8

in some european country, i heard that back in the day you couldn't hit your mate with nothing longer than nine yards

Answer 9

it's the amount of fabric used to make a monk's robe.

Answer 10

the whole thing .,wanting it all no matter what ,the old adage the whole enchilada