Dead wrong

Posted by Lewis on May 21, 2004

In Reply to: Yippee!!! posted by Barney on May 21, 2004

: : : : Try American Football: when a play results in a first down with the ball just inside the defensive team's 10 yard line, then the offensive side cannot gain another set of downs. So, they have to go the whole 9 yards.

: : : : : : : DOES ANYONE KNOW THE AMOUNT OF EARTH REMOVED TO CREATE A GRAVE. IT WOULD SEEM TO BE CLOSE TO NINE CUBIC YARDS..3X3X3 FEET SQUARE. IT SEEMS THAT NO ONE HAS EVER SUGGESTED THIS AS A POSSIBLE MEANING. I'VE ALWAYS HAVE USED AND HAVE HEARD USED "HE BOUGHT THE WHOLE NINE YARDS AS MEANING SOMEONE HAS BEEN KILLED. HOW ABOUT IT?

: : : : : : Isn't 3'x 3' x 3' one cubic yard?

: : : : : Might not be adequate for a midget's grave.... but even if we go to 6 feet under, and 6 feet long, we're only to 4 cubic yards. Another speculation turned to dust, unto dust, unto dust.

: : : : Try American Football: when a play results in a first down with the ball just inside the defensive team's 10 yard line, then the offensive side cannot gain another set of downs. So, they have to go the whole 9 yards.

: : : I think we determined that the expression predates American football.

: : I am Sooooo glad that somebody brought up the Whole Nine yards. No page without brass monkeys or 9 yards is allowed in the archive.

: : I'm still betting on the ammo belt to win, but where is the proof?

: As I'm sure I previously pointed out a double grave 6ftX6ftX6ft9inches buried two people side by side below the 6ft depth dictated by the church authorities in medieval England - this is the origin of the expression 'the whole nine yards'. This explanation pre-dates ammunition belts or any of the other outlandish candidates presented on this, and other, websites.

The maths may work out - as it did for concrete mixers and clothiers (allegedly) BUT before asserting the certainty of your explanation, based upon some historic explanation being before a more modern origin - I suggest that you find some recorded use. IF 'the whole nine yards' has a mediaeval origin, then you can look at literature from Chaucer onwards seeking it in print and expect to find it somewhere. Nobody has cited a reference to the expression before modern times - if you know of one, please share it, otherwise keep your over-confidence to yourself - your theory, without evidence, is no better than the others. Please show us your evidence, not simply contrived sums.

  • Dead dead wrong Li Yar 21/May/04
    • The Grave - 9 yards Roger Regent 21/May/04