# The whole nine yards

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 11, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458 "2002-07-11T17:44:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mr.splitfoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@mr.splitfoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.splitfoot)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458/1 "2002-07-11T17:44:19Z")

</div>

Where does the phrase “the whole nine yards” come from?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458/2 "2002-07-11T18:03:15Z")

</div>

Do a search on this site, this comes up a lot. Short answer, no one knows.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458/3 "2002-07-11T18:09:03Z")

</div>

The 27 feet of ammo strung in a WWII fighter plane. When they emptied their guns, they gave 'em the whole nine yards.

So I’ve heard.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458/4 "2002-07-11T18:36:15Z")

</div>

First and foremost, welcome to the SDMB, **mr. splitfoot**.

The General Questions FAQ requests that all users search the archives before opening a new thread:

> [@](#):
>
> Many threads in GQ never need to have been opened, and the OP could have received a complete answer more quickly by spending a little time in the archives.

To search the SDMB archives, go [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php) or click on the “Search” link at the top of any SDMB page. Remember to reset the “search by date” indicator to “any date” before you check the board archives.

To search Cecil’s archived columns, go [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/118458/5 "2002-07-11T18:47:38Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by lieu \*  
> \*\*The 27 feet of ammo strung in a WWII fighter plane. When they emptied their guns, they gave 'em the whole nine yards.
> 
> So I’ve heard. \*\*

Sorry, but this one, while quite popular, has been thoroughly debunked. “The whole nine yards” is a phrase from the 1960’s, and there is no mention of it during WWII.

But **Telemark** has it – no one knows.

You can read other suggested and rejected theories in [Cecil’s column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_252.html) or at the [Word Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/072999.html#wholenine).

And on preview I see that **KtN** has given you some very good advice about searching out answers at the SD.