2006-08-10 01:44:12 · 12 answers · asked by stillwaters 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
1960s, originally U.S. military slang, of unknown origin; perhaps from concrete mixer trucks, which were said to have dispensed in this amount. Or the yard may be in the slang sense of "one hundred dollars." Several similar phrases meaning "Everything" arose in the 1940s (whole ball of wax, which is likewise of obscure origin, whole schmear); older examples include whole hog and whole shooting match (1896) whole shebang (1895).
2006-08-10 02:00:19 · answer #1 · answered by Cricket 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In old Scotland, it took nine yards of woolen tartan to make a "great kilt" - which was hand pleated and wrapped every time it was worn. In later times, kilts were stitched together so they could be put on more quickly, and they were made using six or seven yards of tartan. Therefore, something done properly and authentically is done by "going the whole nine yards".
2016-03-27 06:26:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that this is a reference to gunners on helicopters... Those big machine guns in the door of some helicopters had nine yards of bullets, so if you shot them all at once, you "went the whole nine yards"... Not sure if this is true, though... :-)
2006-08-10 01:50:38 · answer #3 · answered by Chris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a football expression. 10 yards is a new first down, or restart of all your chances to get a touch down. The whole nine yards is referring to gaining 9 yards after a one yard gain.
2006-08-10 01:51:02 · answer #4 · answered by wing_gundam 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One thought is from WWII fighter planes. The ammo belts for their machine guns were 9 yards long. If you came back empty, you had given them "the whole nine yards".
2006-08-10 01:48:20 · answer #5 · answered by sparkletina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard all of these previous answers. My version is that it came from sailing ships. A ship with ALL of their sails let out to the wind was typically 9 sails. Thus, the "whole" 9 yards would mean put out all the sails on the 'yardarm' (the thing that holds the sail when 'stowed' away).
2006-08-10 01:51:09 · answer #6 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I am not mistaken it refers to ammunition belts used in airplane machine guns during World War II. The belts were 9 yards long, leading to things like "I gave him the whole nine yards." etc.
2006-08-10 01:49:43 · answer #7 · answered by danl747 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it starts because of the chinese people believe that the greatest number is nine, because ten is one and zero , 1 + 0 = 1
and number 8 is good for business because full 2 circle is connected.. means the money wont go anywhere to unneccessery expenses.
but it's even better is 1738 ,(yi chi san pa) means working & build together.. haha..a bit funny, but it's true
2006-08-10 01:53:26 · answer #8 · answered by David 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bolts of fabric come in lengths of nine yards.
Who knows why and franky, who cares?
2006-08-10 01:48:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like something from foot ball.....I know I'm just a dumb brunette.
2006-08-10 07:49:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋