Across the pond

Posted by Joe September 22, 2009 at 20:42In reply to Across the pond posted by ESC on September 22, 2009 at 18:32:

Found this comment on a discussion forum about the U.S. television show Mad Men (which is really good, by the way." An American ad agency was brought out by a British company and some of their staff were coming to visit:

"I also thought England being referred to as 'across the pond' in Sunday's episode was anachronistic. I think that phrase went back about 20 years. The show takes place in 1963. I remember the Beatles coming to America in early 1964 and there was no mention of them being from 'across the pond.'"

Does anyone know how long this expression has been used?

First I can locate is WWII, US Army ref to going to Europe. 1919 pub date

Fits, as it was still used in the Army in the 1960's, as in Hey I got my orders! "where to", "Across the Pond"....