“People who think by the inch and talk by the yard deserve to be kicked by the foot” is a jocular saying that appears to have developed in two parts. “Some men and women talk by the yard and think by the inch” was cited in print in many newspapers in 1882. “Those who think by the inch talk by the yard and get kicked out by the foot” was cited in print in 1939.
Chronicling America
7 January 1882, The Carbon Advocate (Lehighton, PA), pg. 4, col. 5:
Some men and women talk by the yard and think by the inch.
16 March 1882, Lawrenceburgh (IN) Register, pg. 4, col. 5:
Some men talk by the yard and think by the inch.
15 April 1882, Goshen (IN) Independent, “Gems of Thought,” pg. 2, col. 6:
Some men and women talk by the yard, and think by the inch.
21 August 1939, Lock Haven (PA) Express, pg. 4, col. 1:
Those who think by the inch talk by the yard and get kicked out by the foot.
30 June 1941, Racine (WI) Journal-Times, “Blue Monday In Burlington” by O. C. Hulett, pg. 19, col. 2:
Well, folks you wouldn’t be expected to be interested in anything outside of their home town can have opinions about world affairs, and people you would expect to be steeped in erudition up to their eyebrows can come through with a laugh now and then, and here is a case in point, attributed by a friend of this column to a Methodist bishop in Minnesota, who is quoted as saying, “Folks who think by the inch and talk by the yard—should be kicked by the foot.”
11 May 1948, Brandon (Manitoba) Daily Sun, “Sun Gleams,” pg. 4, col. 2:
Those speakers who think by the inch and talk by the yard should be moved by the foot.
7 May 1953, Brandon (Manitoba) Daily Sun, “Sun Gleams,” pg. 4, col. 3:
People who think by the inch talk by the yard should be moved by the foot.
Google Books
The Mammoth Book of Great British Humor
Edited by Michael Powell
Philadelphia, PA: Running Press
2010
Pg. 59:
Most architects think by the inch, talk by the yard and should be kicked by the foot.
Prince Charles
Google Books
Seeds of Revolution:
A Collection of Axioms, Passages and Proverbs, Volume 1
By Iam A. Freeman
Bloomington, IN: iUniverse LLC
2014
Pg. 135:
People who think by the inch and talk by the yard deserve to be kicked by the foot. ~Anonymous
Twitter
♓Holla Tweets♓
@hollatweets
People who think by the inch and talk by the yard deserve to be kicked by the foot.
11:02 AM - 29 Sep 2014
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“I read old books because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
•“I study old buildings because I would rather learn from those who built civilization than those who tore it down” (4/18)
•“Due to personal reasons, I’m still going to be fluffy this summer” (4/18)
•“Do not honk at me. My life is worthless. I will kill us both” (bumper sticker) (4/18)
•Entry in progress—BP16 (4/18)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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