Talk:go to the wall

Alternative etymologies

As discussed here:

• Go to the wall, at The Word Detective

…there are numerous alternative etymologies. My takes:

• the sense of fighting seems most plausible, esp. since there’s also “go to the wall for someone”, and “have one's back to the wall” and “retreat to the wall”
• churchyard wall seems possible, esp. given that “by the wall” was used metaphorically for ships, but less likely
• leaning against a church wall seems apocryphal
• “shooting against a wall” is out, because this predates firing squads

Hope this helps! Nils von Barth (nbarth) (talk) 01:42, 7 December 2008 (UTC)