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Apple pie order

What's the meaning of the phrase 'Apple pie order'?

Tidy and well-ordered.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Apple pie order'?

The phrase may originate from the French ‘nappes pliees’ = neatly folded, or from ‘cap-a-pie order’. There’s no definitive evidence to support this and the origin remains uncertain.

It is recorded first in English in Sir Thomas Pasley’s Private Sea Journals, 1780:

“Their Persons Clean and in apple-Pie order on Sundays.”

The history of “Apple pie order” in printed materials

Trend of apple pie order in printed material over time

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Apple pie order

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