In San Diego the local NPR show “A Way With Words” said the term “the whole nine yards” came from cement trucks as put forth in the SD column. They also had some additional information. They said the print citations for “the whole nine yards” are not found before the 60’s.
According to Word Origins, the concrete mixer theory is likely to be bogus.
Interesting I will email Charles Harrington Elster one of the hosts of the show.
If the concrete truck size quote is correct, things changed quick because I started working with concrete in the late 60’s and all the trucks were 8 yard trucks at that time. Now I know there are 10 and 12 yard trucks but I don’t recall ever seeing a 9 yard truck.
I always used to say “the whole nine yards” in the 60’s and I always meant it as a football analogy. You have the ball first and 10 and you run a busted play and make one yard. Then you are faced with a decision - do you screw around for 3 or 4 yards at a time or do you have the balls to go for “the whole nine yards”?
I know no one probably agrees with me but thats what I meant.
Other threads here with theories:
From GQ:
The whole nine yards
From Comments on Cecil’s Columns:
did the whole nine yards issue ever get resolved
the whole 9 yards revisited
the whole nine yards
The Whole Nine Yards Explanation
… and those are just the long threads on this.
Going on gut feeling, I tended to think along the same lines as KenGr, being a foreigner myself to American culture. It seemed to me to be something to do with the yards in a game, rather than anything else. Doubt anyone will know for sure, unless the elusive first print usage turns up.
It refers to having a sucessful lawn-mowing business.
not.
KenGr Interesting that you used it in the 1960’s. Can you be more specific? Did you play ball? What years.
Also, what part of the country were you living in at the time? Did you hear it from other players or from your Dad/family?
If you used it before 1966, this info would be helpful.