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    Why is something clean and trim referred to as "spick and span?"

    Question #38589. Asked by Hamlet.. (Sep 09 03 8:12 AM)


    Linus_337

    		All spick and span describes a neat and tidy situation.

    Originally it had an implication of newness and was Spick and Span new. Spick was a spike or nail and Span a wood chip. The expression was first used of wooden ships fresh from the shipyard.

    http://members.madasafish.com/~jbriggs/idioms%20list.htm

    Sep 09 03, 8:18 AM
    shady shaker

    		According to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Dr. Johnson said the phrase first applied to cloth just taken off the spannans or stretchers.

    Sep 09 03, 8:23 AM

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