"whole nine yards"
Editor's note: Before you read the posting below, check this page on 'The origin of the whole nine yards'.
Posted by Bob on January 09, 2002
In Reply to: "Whole nine yards" posted by Joseph Berry on January 09, 2002
: My comment supports the WWII aircraft origin of this phrase. I have read, though I do not now recall the source, that carrier based fighter planes, e.g. Hellcat, stored machine gun ammunation in the wings in belts. These belts were 9 yards long. A pilot upon return might say, for instance, "I gave that enemy munition plant the Whole nine yards." JB
Say it? But never ever write it down. Find a text reference from that time period and you win the prize.
- "Whole nine yards" Jim
01/10/02
- "whole nine yards" Jim 01/10/02