Quote Originally Posted by freddie View Post
Sorry but I have to disagree with you on this point. I looked up the phrase 'The Full Monty' and found this reference: 'Field Marshal Montgomery, General Montgomery as he was during the Second World War, certainly had the nickname Monty (there was a film, you may recall, with the title I Was Monty’s Double, about a man who impersonated him). The stories about Montgomery mostly refer to his liking for a good breakfast, even in the desert during the North Africa campaign. It is said that the phrase was taken up after the War, presumably by ex-servicemen, as a name for the traditional English breakfast of bacon, eggs, fried bread, tomato, mushrooms, toast, and cup of tea. However, this is just as likely to be a rationalisation of an existing expression, but attached to a well-known public figure in the way such things often are. However, I have been told that it was in common use in transport cafés in the 1950s, so there may be something in it.' In the opening artillary barrage of the Battle of El Alamein 'Monty' ordered up every gun at his disposal (over 1,000!) and created a massive artillary barrage. This impressed his troops so much that they may have refered to anything that included everything available as 'The Full Monty'. This has always been my understanding of the phrase, but of course no one really knows for sure.
Freddie,

Do you have a source for that -- it's a great story, and I'd love to be able to "use" that in my library tours -- I frequently talk about the origins of phrases, etc. as a way to show patrons on how to search for things -- if you could post the reference, either online or written, that would be great.

Cheers,

Todd