The Buck Stops Here

Also "Passing The Buck".

In the 1940's U.S. President Harry Truman made a name for himself with his famous motto "The Buck Stops Here" which he had displayed on his desk in one of those Toblerone-shaped name displaying type thingies.

So, tired was he of everyone in his administration "passing the buck" that he decided that it was going to stop at his desk where he could personally deal with it, ignore it or file it under "pending". So passionately did he believe in this principle that he was prepared to settle the "Oo, shall we or shan't we drop the bomb on the Japs?" dilemma with one summary and scarcely thought-out decision.

But what is this buck thing? Is it a dollar? Or a rabbit? And if it is, why do we say "the buck stops here"?

Winner gets a dollar. Or a rabbit. Or a buck, whatever that turns out to be.

Mike: loser

Buggered if I know this one.

Phrases And Their Origins

• Taken To The Cleaners
• Minding Your P's And Q's
• Hoist By His Own Petard
• Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey
• Full Of Beans
• Kettle Of Fish
• Resting On Your Laurels
• Bone Up
• The Buck Stops Here
• Forty Winks
• On Tenter Hooks
• Up The Swanee
• Not On Your Nelly
• Stick It Up Your Arse
• Cloud Nine

---

Infest the world with pooclub!

	Stumbleupon		Delicious		Reddit		Digg
	Facebook		Twatter		Bollocks		Church of Scientology