Pat, Here is a website that explains the various sources of the term: http://www.yaelf.com/nineyards.shtml
I think the key to remember is that no matter how metricated a society gets, there are still going to be idiomatic expressions that will last. Eventually, as indicated by your case, we come to the point that we know the expression, understand the meaning of it (Whole nine yards = going the distance) but do not necessarily understand where it came from or what it literally means. The point is that I don't think expressions like this one will hurt the cause of metircation. I'm sure there are plenty of "Aussieisms" that may make perfect sense to you but have little or no meaning to those of us from the USA or UK. Kinda what keeps the language interesting, I suppose. Phil -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Pat Naughtin Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2003 6:29 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:27652] The whole nine yards Dear All, Does anyone know the origin of the expression, 'The whole nine yards'? The reason that I ask is that my wife was reading a novel (Sleeper Spy by William Safire) when she came across the claim that 'The whole nine yards' referred to a full load of ready-mixed cement. The metric connection in asking this question is the thought that populist lines like 'The whole nine yards' do efforts toward metrication little good. Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online newsletter, 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by sending an email containing the words subscribe Metrication matters to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --
