Save your bacon

Posted by Lotg (OZ) on August 30, 2004

Typically I was running late for an appointment yesterday, so I was leadfooting it down the Mountain. My partner had left slightly earlier for a different appointment so was ahead of me in a separate car. He rang me to warn me that there was a Radar car heading up the hill towards me. I slowed down, and phew, was doing the limit by the time the cop passed me.

I SMS'd my partner to thank him for 'saving my bacon'. It subsequently occurred to me that this is an old, common, but odd expression. Does anyone know how, when, where this originated? When you think it through it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I mean if you're a pig for example, by the time your meat is bacon, your long gone. Any info please?