Greatest thing since sliced bread

Posted by ESC on October 10, 2000

In Reply to: The best thing since sliced bread??? posted by Lilymaid on October 09, 2000

: It's on the initial list, but not on the "here are the derivations" list. Help me out? THANKS!

"It's the greatest thing since sliced bread -- What a brilliant idea! What a fine thing! Said of any innovation more important than a bread slicer. Often used sarcastically. The expression originated in the mid-twentieth century. Chinese checkers, chopped liver, packaged bread, swinging doors, chewing gum, the hula hoop, or the hamburger may replace (the term) 'sliced bread' (in the expression)..." For example, "the greatest thing since the hula hoop." Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).