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Re: Theory #753

Posted by TheFallen on November 07, 2002

In Reply to: Re: Whole nine yards, the posted by Silver Surfer on November 07, 2002

: : Four of my Uncles were in the Airforce during WWII. One of them knew of the phrase during the war. The others either couldn't say if they had heard of it during the war, or when they first heard it.
: : The Whole Nine Yards was based on the length of the fighter's machine gun belt. If it took every bullet the fighter had to shoot down his foe, "It took the Whole nine yards"

:
: That machine gun must have been a special since no WWII aircraft that I am aware of accepted a 27ft belt of ammunition. Please establish which aricraft fitted with what make of machine gun - I may be wrong and wouldn't that be a good thing if it settled the origin of the "Whole Nine Yards" mystery.

I think the only sensible explanation is to combine as many of the theories on this one as possible - so on that basis, it's at least an old sailing ship with all 9 yards rigged with a collection of sails made from saris, great kilts, ammunition belts, NFL jerseys, and carrying cubic loads of cement.

There is a prize fund being held in in escrow for concrete (or tartan or whatever) proof of this phrase's origins. Lat I heard was that, despite being unwisely invested in Enron stock, the fund had recovered to near on five whole US dollars. The Grand High Inquisitor and Keeper of the Treasury will no doubt post to confirm its current balance.