I just read the archive on the phrase “whole nine yards”. There were several theories batted around, but the theory I heard was not one of them. I had been told that the phrase came from WWII and went something like this: the machine guns’ cartridge belts were nine yards long, so to shoot at a target and exhaust an entire belt on it was to give it the “whole nine yards”. Can anyone in the Teeming Masses back this up?
Link to Column: What’s the origin of “the whole nine yards”? – CKDH
There are plenty of explanations of “the whole nine yards” that no-one can prove. That is one of them.
Specifically, a belt of .50 cal ammunition for the Browning machine guns in the wings of the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang.
Personally, I like the theory that it took 9 yards of fabric to make a top quality wedding dress in the Gay 90s*. (1890s that is.) As in when the dress maker would ask the father of the bride-to-be (while eyeing a fat profit), “Sir, should I use the whole nine yards?”
Merry Christmas,
Sky
*I just realized I hadn’t heard the phrase “Gay 90s” in 15-20 years.
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, DawnaF, glad to have you with us.
When you start a thread, it’s helpful to others if you provide a link to the column you’re commenting on. Helps keep us all on the same page. No biggie, I’ve edited the link as a footnote to your post. You’ll know for next time.
The machine gun bit, so far as I am aware, has neither been proved nor disproved. One obstacle – the first appearance in print of “whole nine yards” is the early 1960s. It is hard to imagine that a phrase that was in use during WWII would not appear in print until 17 or 18 years later.