Dumb gun-tangential question

[Futo Inu]

Does anyone know the origin of the phrase(s): "It's a long shot, but....", "Not by a long shot", etc.?

I am wondering whether it originated from shooting guns or hockey or basketball, or some other source.

 

[Art Eatman]

I recall it from when I was a kid, back in the 1940s; I always took for granted that it came from shooting. It's a term in horse race betting (long shot = poor odds), as well, although even there it may have derived from shooting.

FWIW, Art

[This message has been edited by Art Eatman (edited May 25, 2000).]

 

[Kframe]

Another one: "the whole nine-yards"
I was told a long time ago that in the .30cal water cooled machine-gun of WWI or WWII, you could fire 9 yards of belted ammo before the water jacket boiled away.
So the expression meant to the fullest extent, or maximum possible.
Yes No?
-Kframe

 

[Dizzipator]

Kframe,

I think "the whole nine yards" is a reference to cement trucks. Their typical capacity is nine cubic yards, so if you needed a whole truck full, you would say you need the whole nine yards.

Of course, yours sounds pretty good too. And this site:
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/MorelandC/HaveOriginsData.htm#TheWholeNineYards

offers a bunch more possibilities.

[This message has been edited by Dizzipator (edited May 25, 2000).]

 

[loknload]

Can't say where a long shot came from, But the whole nine yards came from WWII B17s. Each gunners .50 cal was loaded with a 9yd. belt and that was all he had due to weight limits. When a Messerschmidt would go in for the kill the gunner was said to have let him have the whole 9 yds. I use to know how many rounds that was but I can't remember. Correct me if I'm wrong but that is where I was told that one came from

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous

[This message has been edited by loknload (edited May 25, 2000).]

 

[David Scott]

"Long shot" is such an old term it probably comes from Archery.

 

[HukeOKC]

I thought the whole nine yards was like when it's fourth and 9 and the other team gives up "the whole nine yards" and you get a first down.

Laugh please I was kidding.

 

[MrBlonde]

I was told that "the whole nine yeards" was talking about how in WWII some type of plane would take off having nine yards of ammo(on a belt) and using it all? I dunno where I heard that.

 

[416Rigby]

Another one, "son of a gun" refers to the women of ill-repute who "worked" in military harbors.

A common practice for those of them who would remain pregnant was to give birth to their "ill-conceived" offspring in a makeshift "cubicle" bordered by two of the ship's artillery pieces.

 

[Mal H]

I always thought "it's a long shot" came about right after ol' Sam Colt started making his SAA. Sometimes a shooter felt the shot he was about to take was too far for the standard .45 Colt cartridge, so he loaded his revolver with .45 Long Colts and then took the shot.


[Yes, I'm kidding, too! ]

[This message has been edited by Mal H (edited May 25, 2000).]

 

[paratrooper]

I was always of the notion that the whole 9 yards was a garment maker saying . For a really good suit to be made custom the fabric must blend perfectly . There will be some lost so as to make the weave and pattern blend just right . Considering the jacket , pants and vest must all be up to "scratch" I would believe it . But of course in the words of Confederate General Jubilation T. Cornpone " DAMMIFFIKNOWFOSHURE " .

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TOM
SASS AMERICAN LEGION NRA