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Legitimate beef

Posted by R. Berg on September 11, 2007

In Reply to: Legitimate beef posted by David Brown on September 11, 2007

: Legitimate beef - (any origin known for this?)

Eric Partridge's A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English says "beef" as a complaint has been common in Canada since the early 20th century; no word on how long it's been common in other countries. "Legitimate beef" simply applies the standard word "legitimate" to the slang word "beef." It's not a set phrase that I know of, the kind for which a first use might be traced. ~rb

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