Pick-a-peck

Posted by Smokey Stover on November 23, 2005

In Reply to: Pick-a-peck posted by Bruce Kahl on November 23, 2005

: : What's the meaning of "pick-a-peck"? It's in the title of an animation episode (Ranma 1/2 ep 140) which I'm having to translate. I searched using Google, Dictionary.com, Answers.com and here, and unfortunately I couldn't get a clue of this expression's meaning. :(

: : Thanks in advance for any help provided.

: A peck is a unit of measurement. I always see it as a bushel of sorts.
: Literally, pick a peck means to gather a large quantity of something.
There are four pecks to the bushel, four (dry) quarts to the peck. Apples and potatoes in particular used to be sold by the peck. There's a well known tongue twister that exists in several versions, of which one is:
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers: If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?"

Other than that, I'm not familiar with anything called "pick-a-peck." It could be a slogan used by one of those orchards that allows you to pick your own fruit. SS

• Pick-a-peck RRC 23/November/05
  • Pick-a-peck R. Berg 23/November/05