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Origin of Phrase 800 Pound Gorilla
I saw this question asked other places online, but never saw the answer. Therefore, what was the first metaphorical use of the phrase 800-pound gorilla?
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Answers
This is a reference to that phrase: http://www.nea.org/teachex
Still no clue about its origin though
Chapman’s Dictionary of American Slang
600/800/900-POUND GORILLA by 1970s: A powerful force; a virtually irresistible influence <. . . likens Spielberg to an ‘800-pound gorilla.’ which can be defined as a high-priced Holly wood species that makes its own decisions.—Los Angeles Times> <. . . there were no obvious 900-pound gorillas like Forest Gump or Schindler’s List—Wisconsin State Journal> [Etymology: from a joke in which the question “Where does a 600-pound gorilla sleep?” is answered “Anywhere it wants.”]
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by: CallandorPosted on 2005-04-14 at 13:23:01ID: 13785538
It was used in a Question and Answer pair long ago, but no one knows how long.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/