Origin of the expression "to cut the cheese" to mean "to fart"

My brother and I were teasing each other in the car today, and at one point, he mentioned that a particularly noxious ambient smell must have been because I cut the cheese. (of course, if wasn’t… probably some car gas or something) Our mom overheard this, and asked what that meant. (despite ALL the fart jokes running in the family for years now…) We told her, and she wanted to know the origins of that expression… of course, we had no clue. (she thought it must have originated with me… hey, I’m 26, but I’m sure it was around for longer than that, and I was sure not the originator of the expression, after all)

So does anyone have any ideas? Might tell my brother some of the things said in this thread… I’m not letting my mother know about this online activity!

F_X

I’m sure it evolves from the pungent nature of a good old aged cheese. Or it could be a corruption evolving from a rather spreadable cheese called Limburger. When you get a chance, try to get hold of some Limburger. It literally smells like sh*t. Tastes pretty good, however.

Have you never enjoyed some nice imported stinky cheese?

[sub] And where’s that Limburger I had around here?
oh, that’s me. sorry.[/sub]

More speculation I’m afraid, but whole mature cheese in the rind doesn’t generally smell much until you cut into it.

A post in this EZBoard thread on word origins has that the first instance of “cut the cheese” came from 1959 (so, no, Flamsterette_X, you’re not to blame for this one!), with a “cheeser” being a “strong-smelling fart” from 1811 British usage.

Probably related to “cheesy socks” .

I remember first hearing it in the movie American Graffitti, circa 1972 or so.

My favorite use of the phrase was a radio ad for Dorman’s Cheese in the late 60s. IIRC, it was done by Dick (“Chickenman”) Orkin and Bert (“Tooth Fairy”) Berdis. They talked about going to a wedding where they served Dorman’s cheese instead of a wedding cake. And everyone there sang, “The bride cut the cheese, the bride cut the cheese.”

I couldn’t believe they let that one get by.

No, but I have smelled stinky tofu… yuck.

Thanks for the answers, folks. :slight_smile:

F_X

I have pondered this question at some length.
Sponges have no intestines, and this is why you never hear anyone say “Awww, jeez, who cut the sponge???”
“Wasn’t me!”
“It must have been Dave.”
“No I didn’t”
At which point everyone agrees it must have been Dave, and the more Dave denies cutting the sponge, the less he is believed. This never happens, ergo, I concur with what someone else said, though I do not quite recall who said it, or what it was, or when. But it struck me as being correct, as compared to the other posts which seemed to be less correct.

Thus, I have spoken on this topic.

I sspect it has something to do with the thick waxy skin some cheeses somestimes have to keep them fresh, thusly, they would have little odor untill cut open releasing a strong cheese smell.