Originally Posted By: zmjezhd
hence, gaffer('s) tape.

Yes, but don't confuse gaffer's tape with duct tape. Gaffer's tape doesn't pull the paint off of walls.

An interesting little idiomatic use of "of" there - I like idioms that involve prepositions, particles or other small words, they are so randomly, redundantly free radical. There is no logical reason for them to be there other than accustomed usage. In the sentence in question, "off walls" means the same thing. Or "from walls" would do as well. My favourite English idiom of this type is that you "chop a tree down and then you chop it up." Why not just chop it? Anyone have any other favourite examples?