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Subject:Re: origin of a phrase From:Kent Newton <KentN -at- METRIX-INC -dot- COM> Date:Mon, 25 Nov 1996 10:39:01 -0600
Thom, on Monday, November 25, 1996 10:22 AM, you wrote:
>>Recently, I ran into a bit of controversy over the phrase "bigger bang for
>>the buck." I had always assumed that this had to do with explosives -
>>fireworks and the like, but I was told that it had originated as a
>>description dealing with prostitution. 'Nuff said.
>>
>>Question: Does anyone know *definitively* how this expression has arisen?
>>Has anyone else run into a problem with this expression?
>>
From the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang (Volume 1
A-G) by J.E. Lighter:
"bang for the buck [fr. military spending; 'bang" in the sense of
'firepower'] value for one's money."
It goes on to cite several references: (1968) Safire New Language of
Politics, (1981) Business Week Sept 7, (1984) L.A. Times June 14, (1990)
U.S. News & World Report June 4, and 1992 Hosanskyu & Sparling Wording
Vice.
Kent
===========
Kent Newton
Senior Technical Writer
Metrix, Inc.
kentn -at- metrix-inc -dot- com
