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"grease monkey"

Posted by ESC on November 14, 2001

In Reply to: "Grease Monkey" "rule of thumb" posted by Kevin on November 13, 2001

: I am trying to find out the meaning and origin of the phrases "grease monkey" and "rule of thumb" I am using them in a current paper for my masters degree so I need credible sources. Can anyone help?

"grease monkey - n. a mechanic, esp. one who works on automobiles or airplanes. 1928 Gravatt "Pioneers" 251: All the way down the line.from skilled draftsmen in a polished office to the 'grease monkeys' with blackened faces and smeary over-alls." From the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, A-G by J.E. Lighter, Random House, New York, 1994. Page 959.

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