Re: Hope this helps with the "tin horn"........

Posted by Greg on August 14, 2003

In Reply to: My father was in the military... posted by Word Camel on August 13, 2003

: : : Searching for the origin of "like s**t through a tin horn" Patton used it in a speech but I dont think he made it up.

: : Greg, you aren't being ignored; I've certainly never heard anything like it, or your earlier posting, and it doesn't seem to make any sense to my American ears. Do you have any source for the quotation?

:
: They seem to have all sorts of expressions which seem to originate mainly in the desire to be offensive - "What's the matter? You got hooks up your arse?" is another one. There's a book in this somewhere - for anyone motivated enough.

A gentleman I work with, who is 64, used the expression last week. He said that he did not know the origin, just that his father, who was chicken rancher said it all the time while he was growing up. I have also heard it used many times growing up in Alaska, but mainly from people from the southern U.S. who had moved there for the oil pipeline work. I am including the entire quote from General Pattons speech. Not sure if this will help but its all I've got. I wonder if this quote is rooted in the farm community? Thanks for your time.
"Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under, or through the enemy. We are going to go through him like crap through a goose; like shit through a tin horn!"