It's all over bar the shouting

Posted by RRC on May 20, 2008 at 16:12

In Reply to: It's all over bar the shouting posted by RRC on May 20, 2008 at 16:10:

: : Does anybody know the origin of "It's all over bar the shouting"? I know the meaning, it is just the origin I am looking for. My mother believes it comes from Julius Caesar.

From The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms says (for "all over but the shouting"):
"The term's first use, in print, in 1842 was by Welsh sportswriter Charles James Apperley, but some authorities believe it originated even earlier in the United States for a close political race." ... "A common British version is 'all over bar the shouting'."
(edited as I forgot to type "of Idioms")