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"had the biscuit"

Posted by ESC on January 29, 2002

In Reply to: "Had the biscuit" posted by B. Marlin on January 28, 2002

: My 9-year-old accepts, with some puzzlement, my use of the phrase "had the biscuit" to mean something that has seen a better day. Anyone know where this expression comes from?

Where is this phrase used -- what part of the country?

A guess regarding the origin: could it have anything to do with the phrase "Well, that takes the biscuit (or cake)!" meaning "that takes the prize." "1897 Siler & Houseman 'Fight of the Century' 45 'The winner will be entitled to the belt, the biscuit and the whole works.'" From Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, A-G by J.E. Lighter, Random House, New York, 1994.

Something took the prize but now its glory days are over?

Other noteworthy biscuit phrases: hot in the biscuit (overeager, excited) and catch with a biscuit (to catch with incriminating evidence). Also from the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, A-G.

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