On Thu, 2 Jan 2003, Willats, Marilyn B. wrote:
> I'm trying to find the derivation of the phrase "it cost an arm and a leg."
> I've checked various dictionaries of phrases, online sources and the O.E.D.
> One source I checked said that it was probably a relatively recent phrase
> (post-WWII), but didn't give an explanation. A colleague has suggested that
> it might refer to insurance payments for the loss of an arm or a leg. Any
> ideas? Many thanks -
The earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is from Billie
Holiday's 1956 book, Lady Sings the Blues: "Finally she found someone who
sold her some stuff for an arm and a leg." The OED does not give any
explanation as to "why" the expression arose. This is the kind of phrase
for which people are always seeking some specific origin-story, but really
it probably just refers to something as being so expensive that you have
to give up your arm and your leg to get it. Kind of like the pound of
flesh in The Merchant of Venice.
Fred Shapiro
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Fred R. Shapiro Editor
Associate Librarian for Collections and YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
Access and Lecturer in Legal Research Yale University Press,
Yale Law School forthcoming
e-mail: fred.shapiro@yale.edu http://quotationdictionary.com
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