<P> In other uses from this time period, the phrase was given as the whole six yards . In 1912, a local newspaper in Kentucky asked readers to, "Just wait boys until the fix gets to a fever heat and they will tell the whole six yards ." The same newspaper repeated the phrase soon afterward in another issue, stating "As we have been gone for a few days and failed to get all the news for this issue we will give you the whole six yards in our next ." The six - yard form of the phrase also appears in a 1921 headline in a local South Carolina paper . </P> <P> The phrase is not known to have been used in writing thereafter until a 1956 issue of Kentucky Happy Hunting Ground, where it appears in an article on fishing . After describing the contests and prizes, the author writes, "So that's the whole nine - yards ." It appeared in an article on hunting the following year, this time unhyphenated . </P> <P> The phrase at this point was still rare . There is strong circumstantial evidence it was not in general use in 1961, as Ralph Boston set a world record for the long jump that year at 27 feet, or nine yards, but no news report has been found that made any reference to the term, suggesting that journalists were unaware of it or did not regard it as common enough to use as a pun . </P> <P> In a short story published in 1962, the phrase is attributed to "a brush salesman". A letter published in an auto magazine later that year describes a certain new car as containing "all nine yards of goodies". In 1964, several newspapers published a syndicated story which explained that "Give' em the whole nine yards" was NASA talk for an item - by - item report . This early usage can be read as suggesting length, but can also be read as suggesting detailed completeness . </P>

Where does the phrase the whole shooting match come from