Re: The (New) Whole 9 Yards
Posted by Barry on February 28, 2000 In Reply to: Re: The (New) Whole 9 Yards
posted by Gary on February 28, 2000
: : : : : I had always understood it to refere to the amount of
fabric in a man's fully pleated kilt. As a theatrical costumer I
*have* made them and it does take that much .
: : : : Please see http://www.shu.ac.uk/cgi-bin/tp_post4.cgi?=411150
for some background on this.
: : : : Gary
: : : Maybe this is a clue. I was just reading a murder mystery
that had a reference to pouring concrete to build a dam. The term
"four-yard bucket" of concrete was used.
: : In the UK - as a result of our joining the EU - we are changing
all Imperial measurements to the Metric standard. As a result we've
been notified that all phrases referencing the old measurement standards
may no longer be used.
: : It's not necessary to expunge such references from literature
etc. but it is not lawful to include them in new work published
after Jan 1st 2000. Hence you'll find little comment from this side
of the pond on the subject matter of this thread.
: : Remember, we have a government now who are wedded to 'The Third
Way'.
: Of course Barry is right. This press release was obtained by
the Phrase Finder office from a source 'close to the Prime Minister'
recently:
: 'Re the Whole Nine Yards:
: Her Majesty's Government view any earlier so-called derivations
of this phrase to be inappropriate in the period of linguistic change
we now find ourselves. When making speeches MPs should select one
derivation from this list:
: 1. The phrase refers to the length of material required to make
an Amani suit.
: 2. It is the maximum distance any minister is allowed to travel
from his/her spin doctor.
: 3. It is the number of shipyards closed down by the UK government
in a single year.
: The old-fashioned and failing 'yard' has been replaced by the
progressive, dynamic and voter-friendly 'new yard'. The government
is following the able lead of the Metroploitan Police in the renaming
of their headquarters from Scotland Yard to New Scotland Yard. The
size of the unit of measurement will be decided on a day to day
basis by a New Yard electoral acceptability focus group.
: Gary
Point of detail. Late breaking news indicates that 'New Scotland
Yard' will be renamed 'New Scotland Metre' in light of EU directive
EU34-6798-28-02-00-UK.
Downing press spokesman - a Mr. A Campbell - revealed today that
this will assist in the conversion progress as it's expected 'New
Scotland Metre' will be responsible for the implementation of this
latest regulation and it's further expected that their name will
appear regularly in nightly news bulletins as offenders are brought
to book. It's hoped, Mr Campbell continued, that this will reinforce
the government's message that conversion must take place immediately
without exception or compromise. We must, he said, prove ourselves
true Europeans whatever temporary inconvenience this may cause..
Message ends.
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