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The Full Monty

Series: Chrysti the Wordsmith
From: Chrysti M. Smith
Length: 00:02:03

The Full Monty means "the entire amount, the whole enchilada." Why? Read the full description.

Smithchr_small Does the origin of the phrase "the Full Monty" come from a card game, a field marshall, or a tailor? This Chrysti the Wordsmith episode explores these possibilities. "Chrysti the Wordsmith" two-minute weekday modules are produced at KGLT Montana State University- Bozeman, and broadcast in Montana and Wyoming on Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Public Radio, and internationally on the Armed Forces Radio and TV Network.

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Piece Description

Does the origin of the phrase "the Full Monty" come from a card game, a field marshall, or a tailor? This Chrysti the Wordsmith episode explores these possibilities. "Chrysti the Wordsmith" two-minute weekday modules are produced at KGLT Montana State University- Bozeman, and broadcast in Montana and Wyoming on Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Public Radio, and internationally on the Armed Forces Radio and TV Network.

Broadcast History

"Chrysti the Wordsmith" two-minute weekday modules are produced at KGLT Montana
State University- Bozeman, and broadcast in Montana and Wyoming on
Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Public Radio, and internationally
on the Armed Forces Radio and TV Network.

Transcript

The Full Monty

It wasn’t until the 1997 release of a British movie that Americans were exposed to the expression the full monty, meaning “everything, the total amount.” The film tells the story of six unemployed steel workers who turn to stripping for some extra cash. Before an enthusiastic female audience, the men moult their garb, finally revealing the "full monty."
Unfortunately, the history of that this expression does not reveal itself as easily. The phrase has sparse recorded evidence before the late 1980s, but it quickly gained currency throughtout Britain in the early 90s. Those who track the sources of words and phrases can only take an educated guess at the origin of the full monty.
One theory involves a card game called monte; the winner of the high-stakes game would rake in the whole kitty, or the full monte.
Another story links the expression...
Read the full transcript

Musical Works

"Pencils--Family Suite"
Stuart Weber
Hired Man's Dream
Bridger Records
1992

Related Website

http://www.wordsmithradio.org