Whole nine yards, the
Editor's note: Before you read the posting below, check this page on 'The origin of the whole nine yards'.
Four of my Uncles were in the Airforce during WWII. One of them knew of the phrase during the war. The others either couldn't say if they had heard of it during the war, or when they first heard it.
The Whole Nine Yards was based on the length of the fighter's machine gun belt. If it took every bullet the fighter had to shoot down his foe, "It took the Whole nine yards"
That machine gun must have been a special since no WWII aircraft that I am aware of accepted a 27ft belt of ammunition. Please establish which aricraft fitted with what make of machine gun - I may be wrong and wouldn't that be a good thing if it settled the origin of the "Whole Nine Yards" mystery.
Replies
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- Why stop there? Bob 11/09/02
- Why stop there? Word Camel 11/08/02
- The Phrase Finder store ESC 11/08/02
- Treasurer's report Bob 11/08/02
- A little more explanation Barney 11/08/02
- A little more explanation R. Berg 11/07/02
- Unchastened TheFallen 11/07/02
- A more direct statement R. Berg 11/07/02