{"id":2114,"date":"2022-03-04T17:35:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T17:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2022-03-04T17:35:44","modified_gmt":"2022-03-04T17:35:44","slug":"lock-stock-and-barrel-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/lock-stock-and-barrel-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Lock Stock and Barrel \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you need a way to tell someone you have everything ready to go? This post unpacks the meaning, origin, and use of the phrase \"lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>.\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \"lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>\" refers to the three primary components of a rifle. The lock is the firing mechanism, the stock is the handle, and the bullet travels through the barrel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, the phrase's meaning is that you have all the components of the plan on hand and ready to go. You are not missing anything, and you have everything required to complete the task.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"The Democrats have run this state for a long time \u2014 lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>. That has to stop.\" \u2013 Kudlow, The Hartford Courant.<\/p>\n

\"He's still asking for more, and his Republican uncles are clearly ready to turn over to him whatever's left of the family savings, lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>.\" \u2013 The Huffington Post.<\/p>\n

\"If the RSS has its way, it would shut the university down, lock stock and barrel<\/em> and throw the keys into the Bay of Bengal.\" \u2013 The Deccan Chronicle.<\/p>\n

\"We have everything ready to go, lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>.\"<\/p>\n

\"We gave him everything, lock, stock, and barrel.\"<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The origin of the term \"lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>\" comes from the US military. The phrase's first use appears in July 1803 in a newspaper, \"The Connecticut Sentinel<\/em>.\"<\/p>\n

The publication featured a column reporting on the 4th of July festivities in Stratford, Connecticut. It appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\"1st: The 4th of July, 1776, the birthday of our ninepence...<\/p>\n

2nd: Jefferson, Paine, Gallatin, and all the rest...<\/p>\n

6th: Patriotism - Self-interest, the cock, lock, stock, and barrel<\/em>.\"<\/p>\n

---<\/p>\n

Sir Walter Scott<\/em> was the first to use it in a letter in 1817, where he writes the following.<\/p>\n

\"Like the High-landman's gun, she wants stock, lock, and barrel<\/em> to put her into repair.\"<\/p>\n

Most people credit Scott with coining the phrase even though it was in use before his time. The English filmmaker, Guy Ritchie<\/em>, would use a variation of the expression, \"lock, stock, and two smoking barrels<\/em>,\" as the title of his debut feature film.<\/p>\n