whole nine yards

Does not come from military or football. It relates to the clothing industry. It is a term that tailors have used since the 1900's for denoting the extent that one wishes to invest in a custom-made suit. It takes exactly nine square yards of material to create a man's three-piece suit. If an individual desires a suit that is tailored to the "hilt" (double lined, etc.), he would request that the tailor should proceed with "the whole nine yards." Anything shy of nine yards would mean various alterations. This would lessen the overall quality of the suit.

The whole nine yards

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Gimme The Whole Nine Yards

Meaning ; I want It All, I'll take It All, I'll Take Everything.

Origin ; It's A Construction Term Used When Receiving A Delivery From A Cement Truck. Cement Trucks Used To Carry A Maximum Load Of Nine Yards Of Cement.

Truck Driver: How Much You Want Today Joe?

Joe: "Gimme The Whole Nine Yards"

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the whole nine yards not the first six inches

1. What a woman should be looking for in a man. (combination of the phrase "whole nine yards" as in: Phrase equivalent to "Everything that is available." and Six Inches, the length of the average male penis)

"Girl, what you need to be looking for is the whole nine yards not the first six inches."

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