In "the whole nine yards," I believe it's a reference to nine cubic yards (not to linear yards) -- the capacity of one of the standard dumpsters (skips if you speak British English). Therefore, a conversion to meters makes no sense.
A ten-foot pole has a certain utility that a 10 meter pole (enormously long) would not have. I guess you could say 3 meter pole (which is very close to ten feet). However, again, it's a historical thing and it's better to let it eventually die out than to try to use a metric approximation. Simply state, the term "three meter pole" doesn't exist in common usage, even in a metric country. If you can come up with new expressions that will be memorable, there's some point to it. A straight conversion (even adjusted to an appropriate approximation) has no history and won't go anywhere. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Behalf Of MightyChimp >Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 18:23 >To: U.S. Metric Association >Subject: [USMA:30011] RE: the metric system and jokes > > >I got the same feeling when I read it too. I felt he was more upset with >the "exactness" of conversion that some people seem to do. A thousand yard >stare could just as well been a 1000 m stare and not lost a hint of the >meaning. At least he knew that the 1 mile per gallon was the US gallon and >converted it correctly. He could have assumed it was the old imperial >gallon and said it was equal to 282 L/100 km. > >Funny how 100 m is always converted to 100 yards in the English language >press but 100 yards becomes 90 m in other languages. > >"the whole nine yards." There is and probably never will be a metric >equivalent of the latter. > >What about "the whole 10 m"? > >But to say you wouldn't touch something with a 3.05-metre pole - that's a >whole different league (5.56 kilometres). > >I would say a 10 m pole, and I usually do. As for league, I don't think it >is a length unit in this application but more in tune with a sports league >or a team. > > >Euric > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Bill Potts" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Sunday, 2004-05-30 18:34 >Subject: [USMA:30010] RE: the metric system and jokes > > >> As far as I can see, the writer is merely satirizing the >compulsive act of >> conversion. I don't interpret his article as a criticism of metric usage >as >> such (just of the use of conversion where it isn't even required). >> >> His criticism is of any arbitrary and unnecessary conversion, including >that >> of currency. >> >> It's obviously silly to convert figures of speech, such as "in for a >penny, >> in for a pound" (where, unfortunately, he used the avoirdupois pound, >rather >> than the currency) and In time, it will probably die out >> and be replace with more contemporary expressions. Outside the >metrication >> arena, for example, "half a bale shy of a load" (as a description of >someone >> who isn't quite with it, mentally) has morphed into things like "a few >fries >> short of a Happy Meal." Urban people aren't familiar with bales >of hay, so >> are more likely to understand the latter. >> >> Bill Potts, CMS >> Roseville, CA >> http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] >> >> >> >-----Original Message----- >> >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >Behalf Of Paul Trusten >> >Sent: Sunday, May 30, 2004 14:37 >> >To: U.S. Metric Association >> >Subject: [USMA:30009] the metric system and jokes >> > >> > >> >IMHO, a huge ongoing PR problem with metric in the United States >> >and also in >> >metricating countries is its being the butt of jokes, usually having to >do >> >with conversion between systems, and not usually involving the >use of the >> >metric system alone. Here's a current classic from Australia: >> > >> >http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/30/1085855438557.html >> > >> >I'd love to hear some discussion about this. I think this is a very >> >important metric issue! Thanks. >> > >> >-- >> >Paul Trusten, R.Ph. >> >3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 >> >Midland TX 79707-2872 USA >> > >> > >> > >> >>
