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#192434 08/12/2010 2:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5
Nan
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stranger
stranger
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A friend just emailed me that a particular election was a "shoe-in." I think it should be "shoo-in" but not sure. And it made me curious about where the phrase comes from. Anyone know?

Nan #192438 08/12/2010 3:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
it's shoo-in, from the interjection 'shoo!', and from horse-racing argot.

1908 G. E. SMITH Racing Maxims & Methods of ‘Pittsburgh Phil’ ix. 123 There were many times presumably that ‘Tod’ would win through such manipulations, being ‘shooed in’, as it were. [OED online]


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