There have been a number of somewhat inconclusive threads about Unca Cece’s column on What’s the origin of “the whole nine yards”? However, confirming the truism that pretty much every common English phrase can trace its coinage – or at least its popularity – to Shakespeare, it turns out “the whole nine yards” is in fact another of the great bard’s linguistic gifts.
The prototypical form of this phrase appears in one of his lesser known plays – Love’s Labour Wonne – namely Act 1, Scene 8, up near the top of the page, where Pistachio is declaring his undying love for Formaldehyde:
This early usage has been overlooked until now, most likely because “Loves Labour Wonne” is one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays, partly due to the variance in the contents of the various Shakespeare folios, so this particular play is not included in all of his collected works.
Sadly – and inexplicitly – Uncle Cecil has never won a Pulizer for his 36-odd years of producing The Straight Dope. However, I promise to mention his name – prominently – at the awards ceremony held for my discovery.
Interestingly, this play also includes – from Act 3, Scene III, down the page a bit – the following:
which is an obvious allusion to the fact that the “Shakespeare” plays were being written by Francis Bacon. But we all knew that already.
There remains the question of whether Shakespeare actually coined this phrase, or instead it was one commonly in use in Elizabethan England. That I will leave as an exercise for the reader. Meanwhile, I’m learning to read Egyptian hieroglyphics – just a hunch, mind you.
I see what you’re getting at, but I think you misremember. I just read all of Act V, and that’s not in there. Are you sure you’re not mixing it up with something else?
ETA: D’oh! I found it. It’s actually at the end of the associated sonnet, “The Winged Angels Tread Upon the Endless Band of Heaven.” Technically not in Act V, but I should have seen it.
Er, yes. “Love’s Labours Won” (however spelled) is a lost Shakespearean play: there are references to it in contemporary documents, but no copies exist. And today is April 1st – just 22 days from Shakespeare’s birthday!
The day hath moved on, to tomorrow. And tomorrow and the next tomorrow will be tagging along soon after. Hence, I’m closing this this thread lest some poor unsuspecting person be snagged on a less appropriate date.
I did that already. I can’t see what it’s supposed to mean.