I can't tell you how many times I heard that expression filtering out of my mother's mouth as I was growing up, never knowing the source of where it came from. Well, it turns out it was rooted in the Duesenberg automobile, which, in its time, was among the most revered auto brands ever to grace this planet. It still is, for that matter.
Now my mother was not—I repeat, was NOT a Duesenberg aficionado; or even a fan of cars for that matter...
Far from it, but she was a product of that era when Doozies reigned supreme, and that was a popular expression of that time and place. So as a result, the phrase stuck with her, and would surface every now and then. Way to go mom. You may have subconsciously and inadvertently started me down this car-nut path that I've been on all my life. ...And all this time I've been blaming it on my dad's '41 Buick Special instead...
rangner says:
12:58 PM, 08/ 7/06
Yeah I learned that from Wikipedia just recently. Those were beautiful cars--and technologically advanced--4-valve heads, dual overhead cams, hydraulic brakes--all in the 20's and 30's
rsholland says:
01:11 PM, 08/ 7/06
They were light-years ahead of other cars of that era.