# Evidence of 1942 usage of "Whole Nine Yards"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-of-1942-usage-of-whole-nine-yards/459161>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 7, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-of-1942-usage-of-whole-nine-yards/459161 "2008-08-07T14:07:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-of-1942-usage-of-whole-nine-yards/459161/41 "2008-08-14T16:10:15Z")

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[QUOTE=dropzone]  
Or football. When I first heard it in the early seventies it seemed to have a sarcastic hint to it, as if the person had fallen short of his goal, though that might just have been my interpretation.  
[/QUOTE]

I actually read once that the expression came from early football rules in which making a first down required nine yards instead of the modern ten.

I’ve never found anything to confirm this, so I assume it’s another folk tale.

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**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-of-1942-usage-of-whole-nine-yards/459161/42 "2008-08-14T17:10:43Z")

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[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase]  
I actually read once that the expression came from early football rules in which making a first down required nine yards instead of the modern ten.

I’ve never found anything to confirm this, so I assume it’s another folk tale.  
[/QUOTE]

In 1882, the system of “downs” was instituted; at that time, five yards were required to make a first down. In 1906, to open up the game and reduce injuries, the distance required to make a first down was increased to ten yards (other changes were also made). If there was ever any nine-yard requirement, it certainly wasn’t widely recognized, and it would have existed pre-1906, making the gap between the literal source of the phrase and the first known written record 50+ years.

[Citey-cite](http://www.hornetfootball.org/documents/football-history.htm)

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