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105:. Once in a conversation between Lady Glencora and the Duke of Omnium ("When he said this, she gave him a look which almost upset even his gravity, a look which was almost the same as asking him whether he would not—"tell that to the marines." "); once by Ferdinand Lopez to Mr. Arthur Fletcher ("You may tell that to the marines. All the borough shall know what a coward you are."); and once by Lady Glencora to the Duke (""If I were not very serious at this moment, Duke, I should make an allusion to the—Marines.").
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In 1864 William T. Sherman used the phrase, "Talk thus to the marines, but not to me." in his 10 September 1864 letter to
General Hood, CSA, commanding the Army of Tennessee, in response to Gen Hood's complaints regarding Sherman's behavior to the people of Atlanta after Sherman had captured the city
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we have been described as a nation of weaklings – 'playboys' – who would hire
British soldiers, or Russian soldiers, or Chinese soldiers to do our fighting for us. Let them repeat that now! Let them tell that to General MacArthur and his men. Let them tell that to the sailors who today are hitting
118:'s character is forced to read a pro-Nazi propaganda radio broadcast. He "warns" of the invincibility of the German war machine and instructs the Americans to be sure to tell the Army and the Navy and, above all, "Tell it to the Marines!!" Naturally, the Nazis don't get the reference.
272:– there has been one persistent theme through all Axis propaganda. This theme has been that Americans are admittedly rich, (and) that Americans have considerable industrial power – but that Americans are soft and decadent, that they cannot and will not unite and work and fight. From
64:: "You may tell that to the marines ... may I be damned if the sailors will believe it", and several similar shorter phrases in speeches by characters. Davis was a veteran of the navy. This original meaning of the phrase is pejorative to the Marines, implying that they are gullible.
332:
52:– the full phrase is "tell it to the marines because the sailors won't believe you", but only the first clause is usually given, standing for the whole. The idiom depends on its implication that marines, unlike the speaker, will gullibly believe nonsense.
228:
exist, but
Charles II did not believe them. This version presents the Marines as astute and experienced world travelers rather than credulous dopes. This origin story was formerly widely believed, but Drury later admitted that it was a fabrication.
185:"My Uncle the Car", character Karen Walker tells Beverley Leslie "tell it to the Marines, if ya already haven’t!" after he proclaims he would have made his shot while playing pool had she not intervened.
245:
In
America, the phrase, while still retaining its original use and meaning, also acquired a second meaning: if there's a wrong to be avenged, tell the Marines, because they will do something about it.
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It was used in 1905, by Edith Nesbit in her children's book “The
Railway Children”. It is said by the Stationmaster when he catches Peter stealing coal from the Station in Chapter 2.
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shows a variation of the phrase and an enraged civilian who wants to enlist. This sense of the phrase has appeared in many
American books, films, and other media. The 1926 film
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268:. On February 23, 1942, referring to Axis propaganda doubting the American will to fight. "Ever since this nation became the arsenal of democracy – ever since enactment of
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92:: an angry speech by the character Mr.Lupex about his wife's doings, ending with "... Is that a story to tell to such a man as me! You may tell it to the marines!".
159:
by the Doctor when speaking to the
Brigadier (who would be familiar with it). "Tell it to the Marines" was the title of a 1975 episode of the American TV program
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hard in the far waters of the
Pacific. Let them tell that to the boys in the Flying Fortresses. Let them tell that to the Marines!"
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179:) with Belgian chocolates: "Tell it to the marines! You're up to something. Did you get caught hitting on a waitress?" In the
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shows the
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The Post
Captain; or, the Wooden Walls Well Manned; Comprehending a View of Naval Society and Manners
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They Never Said It : a Book of Fake Quotes, Misquotes, and Misleading Attributions
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used the phrase "Tell it to the Marines – the sailors won't believe it" in his novel
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An early published use of the phrase is in 1804 in John Davis's novel
224:; in Drury's origin story, the Marines knew from their travels that
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369:"The meaning and origin of the expression: Tell it to the marines"
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175:, the phrase is used when Ray (Allen) surprises his wife Frenchy (
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In 1876 Anthony Trollope used the phrase three times in his novel
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188:"Tell it to the Marine" was used as an advertising slogan by
396:"Where does the phrase 'tell it to the Marines' come from?"
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Vintage Old 1970's Marine Midland Bank Checking Commercial
212:, wrote in a preface of a 1904 collection of his stories
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of Great Britain (reigned 1660–1685) said the phrase to
662:"Tell It to the Marines (1952 Toby Press) comic books"
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Anthony Trollope (1997) The Small House at Allington,
607:(1. issued as paperback. ed.). New York, NY :
96:and ordered all residents of the city to evacuate.
546:"Happy Days Episode: "'Tell It to the Marines'"
241:James Montgomery Flagg's 1917 recruiting poster
417:Search through the book for the word "Marines"
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280:The phrase was the title of a 1952 series of
133:The phrase is the title of a British sitcom,
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631:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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603:Boller Jr., Paul F.; George, John (1990).
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143:from 1959 to 1960. In a 1972 episode of
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342:" variety implies trustworthiness.
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326:shows the Marines as avengers.
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470:Online Etymology Dictionary.
84:used the phrase in his novel
498:The Small House at Allington
214:The Tadpole of the Archangel
155:), the phrase was used as a
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646:Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
433:"On James Montgomery Flagg"
311:song mimics Flagg's poster.
210:Royal Marine Light Infantry
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262:Franklin Delano Roosevelt
204:, a novelist and retired
127:G-Men vs the Black Dragon
743:Quotations from military
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182:Will & Grace episode
38:"Tell it to the Marines"
738:English-language idioms
609:Oxford University Press
40:is an English-language
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136:Tell It to the Marines
88:in the chapter titled
18:Tell It to the Marines
340:loose lips sink ships
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111:Once Upon a Honeymoon
30:For other uses, see
367:The Phrase Finder.
233:Alternative meaning
202:William Price Drury
190:Marine Midland Bank
108:In the 1942 comedy
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157:duress code
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732:Categories
618:0195064690
531:2020-07-02
437:Rkpuma.com
351:References
286:Toby Press
282:war comics
270:Lend-Lease
218:Charles II
216:that King
162:Happy Days
146:Doctor Who
116:Cary Grant
50:anapodoton
627:cite book
309:Al Jolson
575:and the
551:TV Guide
472:"Marine"
200:In 1904
80:In 1864
67:In 1824
696:Horntip
589:YouTube
208:of the
169:comedy
56:History
615:
284:from
42:idiom
27:Idiom
703:2013
677:2013
633:link
613:ISBN
559:2013
501:via
483:2012
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141:ITV
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