Another popular expression in English is the whole nine yards which means “the full measure”.
For some reason, this phrase is one of the most debated when it comes to finding its origin.
However, even after so much debate and research that has been made on the phrase, its origin is still not known for sure.
The closest anyone has gotten to confirming anything about the origin of this phrase is that it probably originated in the American military.
This is due, mainly, to the fact that most theories about the phrase’s origin have to do with the military. The following will give a couple of the most popular and feasible theories.
Enquanto você lê
Ler sobre inglês não é falar inglês.
Em 200 horas a gente tira você do “entendo mas não falo”. Descubra em qual módulo você entra.
Estudei 4 anos em outra escola e não falava. Aqui eu falei no terceiro mês.
The most popular theory says that the phrase originated in WWII. According to this theory, nine yards is the length of a machine gun belt that the soldiers used to wear. However, since the earliest usage of the phrase is 1964, this theory, or at least the time period that the theory proposes, is unlikely.
Another theory says that the expression originated during the Vietnam War. According to this theory, the soldiers were often expected to conduct a drill where they would need to run nine yards in three seconds and then drop to the ground to avoid sniper fire.
Since this theory matches both the time frame in which the expression was first seen in print as well as the military context in which most theories place this phrase, it is probably the most reliable.
Nowadays, the expression the whole nine yards is not only used in a military context, but is used whenever the idea of “the full measure” wants to be conveyed. Here is an example:
We are going to throw you a going away party with balloons and a cake, the whole nine yards.
(see 6th paragraph)
Deixe um comentário