The term the whole nine yards actually comes to us from the military. During WWII, fighter planes were equipped with 27 feet of .50 caliber ammunition belts. So, if you used, or spent, all of your ammunition you went through 27 feet or the whole 9 yards of bullets.
photo: F. LoBuono Caption: Flushing Meadows Park, Queens NY
How do you know these things?
ReplyDeleteThey just stick in my head!
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