To push his nose past the judges' box

Posted by James@briggs13.fsnet.co.uk on August 11, 2004

In Reply to: To push his nose past the judges' box posted by Judy on August 11, 2004

: "I realized exactly what must be done if this Fink-Nottle was to be enabled to push his nose past the judges' box."
: (PG Wodehouse, of coures :-) )

: (It means more or less that Fink-Nottle will have the courage to do something)

: What is the origin of this phrase?

Almost certainly from horse racing prior to the development of photo-finish technology. Judges had to decide which horse had won a race. Their judging point seems to have been a box on the finishing line.

• To push his nose past the judges' box Judy 11/August/04
• To push his nose past the judges' box James Briggs 11/August/04