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From: hobs@ihu1n.UUCP (John A. Hobson)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Origin of "bought the farm"
Message-ID: <286@ihu1n.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 13:08:10 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1n.286
Posted: Wed Oct 30 13:08:10 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 02:42:56 EST
References: <719@rtech.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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> Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "bought the farm"?
> -- 
> Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)

When Roman soldiers were retired in one of the provinces, they were
traditionally given a grant of land, so as to further the work of
transplanting Roman culture among the barbarians.  So if a man
"bought the farm", he was no longer in the Army.  It sounds a bit
better than "killed".
-- 
John Hobson
AT&T Bell Labs
Naperville, IL
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