The exact phrase, as well as close variants, can be seen in newspaper and journal articles as early as 1909. It was also used by P. G. Wodehouse in his novel Psmith, Journalist, which was first serialised in The Captain magazine between October 1909 and February 1910; the phrase occurred in the January 1910 instalment. The phrase became familiar with the American public in part due to its use in the Rathbone-Bruce series of films from 1939 to 1946.
The exact phrase as well as close variants, can be seen in newspaper and journal articles as early as 1909. It was also used by P. G. Wodehouse in his ,novel Psmith, Journalist which was first serialised in The Captain magazine between October 1909 and February 1910; the phrase occurred in the ,January 1910 instalment. The phrase became familiar with the American public in part due to its use in the Rathbone-Bruce series of films from 1939 to 1946.