Date: Sat, 25 Mar 1995 16:01:35 -1000

From: Terry Pratt tpratt[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UHUNIX.UHCC.HAWAII.EDU

Subject: had the biscuit



To my surprise I am unable to locate the phrase HAD THE BISCUIT, usually

in some utterance such as "Well, that engine's had the biscuit" (ie is

'dead', finished, kaput, it is an un-engine), in any source available to

me at the moment. TAKE THE BISCUIT, yes, as in 'take the cake, if that

don't beat all' etc. Yet I, a Canadian currently sabbaticking in

Paradise, have known that phrase all my life, and so have others I have

asked. Any help here? Refers to last communion wafer of dying person?

I want to answer a query on the source of this phrase from a member of

the, hem hem, my public.

Terry Pratt

University of Prince Edward Island

University of Hawaii at Hilo, pro tem.