[net.nlang] Origin of "bought the farm"

jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman) (10/29/85)

Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "bought the farm"?
-- 
Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)
"Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent..."

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hobs@ihu1n.UUCP (John A. Hobson) (10/30/85)

> Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "bought the farm"?
> -- 
> Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)

When Roman soldiers were retired in one of the provinces, they were
traditionally given a grant of land, so as to further the work of
transplanting Roman culture among the barbarians.  So if a man
"bought the farm", he was no longer in the Army.  It sounds a bit
better than "killed".
-- 
John Hobson
AT&T Bell Labs
Naperville, IL
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pweiss@sun.uucp (Paul Weiss) (10/31/85)

> Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "bought the farm"?
> -- 
I have heard that it's a reference to insurance policies.  The farmer's
life insurance policy was written to the value of the farm.  When the 
tractor rolled over on him, he had "bought the farm".

Now I've got one: whence "That's all she wrote"?