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"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.

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