Search
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Search
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Home » Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Search
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
To a tee, t, or tea?
Guest
1
2009/06/08 - 8:41pm
Print

If something fits me to a tee, is it tee, t, or tea? I guessing it's tee from golf, but I don't really know.

Thanks!

Guest
2
2009/06/08 - 9:22pm
Print

"To a T" shows up earlier than "to a tee." But both have been around for centuries. "T" appears in the 1600s; the "tee" version about a century later. The origin is foggy.

Guest
3
2009/06/09 - 9:54am
Print

Another thought: Maybe it's from drafting, and the t-square? If you measure an angle to make sure it's 90 degrees, and it fits perfectly, you could say it fits "to a t", dropping the "-square".

Guest
4
2009/06/09 - 10:00am
Print

Best guess (t-square considered) is very likely it is a shortened version of an even older expression "to a tittle" with the same meaning. You may recognize "tittle" as a small mark in writing as in "jot or tittle."

Guest
5
2009/06/09 - 3:03pm
Print

I just found an excellent expert opinion on this in Michael Quinion and his website:

World Wide Words: To A T

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
Eileen Kosnik
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1267
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 25
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Menu

Recent posts