Home, James (and don't spare the horses)

Posted by ESC on May 28, 2009 at 12:24

In Reply to: Home, James (and don't spare the horses) posted by Mick B. on May 28, 2009 at 06:40:

: What is the origin of the phrase "Home, James and don't spare the horses"?

From the archives:

It's a cliche from the movies -- "Once around the park and home, James," said to the chauffeur. According to one reference, the original saying was: "Home, James, and don't spare the horses!" said to the coachman. Dates from 1870 -- if not earlier. There was a song by that title in 1934 that gave the phrase "a popular boost." From Dictionary of Catch Phrases: American and British, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day by Eric Partridge, updated and edited by Paul Beal, Scarborough House, Lanham, Md., 1992)