Comments on: Whole nine yards

By: Tom Sullivan

Tom Sullivan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:27:28 +0000

Perhaps: In the 1800s in cities when people had coal fired furnaces and coal bins, coal was delivered in a dump truck that held 9 cubic yards. The bed of the truck had two steel gates that ran from one side to the other and divided the bed into three equal parts. The gates were suspended from the top and locked at the bottom. If someone wanted 3 yards of coal then the gates were left locked and only the rear most section would be emptied. If you wanted the WHOLE NONE YARDS then the pins locking both gates would be pulled and they would swing up as the bed tipped and the coal would slide beneath them.

By: TB

TB — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:16:57 +0000

Maybe someone just started saying it because they liked the way it sounded?

By: Kenneth Asahan

Kenneth Asahan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:04:44 +0000

It is my understanding that the phrase “whole nine yards” came from the maximum load of bullets loaded in a fighter airplane during World War II. Since bullets were linked together to form a linked chain, the maximum load for a fighter airplane, measured in length would come out to nine yards. Hence, if that airplane gave anyone the “whole nine yards”, it would have given it’s enemy everything or have had expended all of his bullets.

By: Phineas T Gage

Phineas T Gage — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:28:59 +0000

As an old railroad construction worker I can tell you that we used that expression when ordering concrete: the “whole nine yards” meant you needed a full load and would not return a partial load.

By: marie campbell

marie campbell — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:50:45 +0000

I ‘ve heard that the whole nine yards refers to the cubic feet of earth removed in digging a grave!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 02:50:33 +0000

Interesting – so maybe there is a bureaucratic link to the phrase, with paperwork to the nth degree? Nine yards of a list? Information nine yards deep? They want info on the project? Give it to them in spades. Give them the whole nine yards – that’ll teach them.