where does the saying tall order originate?

Answer 1

I think this came from the time in the 1600's when all of the red tunics for the English New Model Army were made in the same size only. Anyone who was unusually tall and could afford it would make a 'tall order' to a tailor.To partially compensate for individual sizing , the arms on the mass-produced tunics were made very long and had to be turned back at the cuff to suit each soldier. This created 'facings' of the lining colour.

Answer 2

Have been doing some checking and that expression, which is an idiom, is not in any of the dictionaries I've checked. This is not the first time someone has tried to find the origin of 'tall order' (can also be 'large order')- Here's the entry from the url below:

In Reply to: Tall order posted by James Briggs on August 08, 2001

: I looked in the archives for a possible origin, but can find none. Why should an 'order' be 'tall', or a 'story' come to that. Any ideas?

"Tall" does not always refer to height.ie: large or great.

Main Entry: tall
Pronunciation: 'tol
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old English getæl quick, ready; akin to Old High German gizal quick
Date: 15th century
1)High in stature, highly exaggerated: INCREDIBLE, IMPROBABLE eg: a tall story
2)Impressively great or difficult eg: a tall order (to fill).

I see the above poster has been at the same site. At any rate, many idioms have been around so long that their origin simply has become lost... good question!

Answer 3

Tall Order Idiom

Answer 4

According to the Lion Salt Works archive (recently restored salt mine in Cheshire, now open as a tourist attraction), a tall order was for blocks of salt cut lengthwise. Normal blocks we cut into sizes same a a housebrick shape. Tall orders were blocks roughly the size of six bricks stacked together.

Answer 5

This is the best reference I can find:
Tall" does not always refer to height.ie: large or great.
Main Entry: tall
Pronunciation: 'tol
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old English getæl quick, ready; akin to Old High German gizal quick
Date: 15th century
1)High in stature, highly exaggerated: INCREDIBLE, IMPROBABLE eg: a tall story
2)Impressively great or difficult eg: a tall order (to fill).

Answer 6

By the person who got sent to the stores for a long weight

Answer 7

a long time a go, a bunch of old wise people came toghether and came up with the slang and old phrases and sayings we all use today :P

Answer 8

All though I don't know what it is I believe you could find your answer at http://www.great-quotes.com/

Good Luck!!!

Answer 9

I dunno, and another one that really gets me is when something is out of whack.

What's a whack?