The 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 Gary Reed October 29, 2002In reply to The whole nine yards... posted by Alison Causton on October 22, 2002

I heard that it refers to the length of a machine gun belt being about 27 feet long.
If you used all the bullets on the belt in fighting off the enemy you gave him the Whole Nine Yards.

But your mother might be right too.