Date:  Thu, 14 Dec 1995 11:13:21 -0800

From:  William Seaburg <seaburg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]U.WASHINGTON.EDU>

Subject: Re: Hens' Teeth



On Thu, 14 Dec 1995, Peter McGraw wrote:



> "[it's

> so difficult it's] like pulling hens' teeth."

>

> To my knowledge, these never spread beyond the coiner, except for passing

> into my family's permanent store of humourous usage.

>



This was (and still is) one of my mother's favorite proverbial

expressions. I don't know where she learned it--probably from her mother

(my grandmother was from Missouri, my mother was born and raised in Montana).