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Nothing to write home about

Posted by ESC on June 25, 2000

In Reply to: Nothing to write home about posted by ESC on June 24, 2000

: : My Dad, a career navy man, used to use the phrase "it's nothing to write home about," or "it's okay, but it's nothing to write home about" to describe any disappointing or overly hyped object or experience.

: : I've heard the phrase from other veterans, and assume it has a military origin. Anyone know for sure?

: I would have guess that it originated during World War II. But my sources indicate it's older than that.

: NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT - ".not very good, pretty bad, 1930,"according to Listening to America: An Illustrated History of Words and Phrases from Our Lively and Splendid Past by Stuart Berg Flexner (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1982). Another source says the expression is older than 1930. "It's ordinary, mediocre. Nothing special or exciting. The expression in its current form dates back to the late nineteenth century," according to Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996). Mr. Titelman cites: 1928. He was.bleeding a bit, but nothing to write home about.G.D.H. Cole, "The Man from the River."

PS "Fighting Words" by Christine Ammer (NTC Publishing Group, Chicago, Ill., 1989, 1999) states that ".Although it originated somewhat earlier, this expression gained currency during World War I among troops stationed far from home."

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