How did this idiom come about? Anyone know?

 

Well there is "that and 2 cents will buy you a cup of coffee" way back in the day..

But I think it was even before that.

 

I think this comes from the expression used on the lower east side of NYC around the turn of the century when you could get a glass of seltzer ( its club soda kind of if you aren't from NYC) for $.02. It was called $.02 plain (See book by William Golden same title). Derivation would mean to express a pain or straight opinion.

Obviously just my $.02

 

Cool.. Nice to know...

We should ask each other more questions like that and perhaps, together, we'll find the answers to all the wonders of the world

I'm serious though, I always have silly little questions like that, and if I were to try and find the answers, I'd take me ages.....

thanks

 

They actually have books on these types of subjects. I know I have one somewhere. It is interesting how cliches and sayings originated.