Bring home the bacon

This figurative expression means to be successful or to bring in money or sustenance especially in a family context. It is also a very good example of how etymological principles work. There is no doubt that the figurative use of the expression is American from the early 20th century and dates from when Joe Gans, the first African-American boxer ever to win a world title, won the World Lightweight title by beating Oscar “Battling” Nelson in the 42nd round of a fight on 3 September 1906. It was widely reported in US newspapers at the time that Joe Gans’s mother had written to her son before the fight, telling him to win and “bring home the bacon”. In fact, the letter was read out by the announcer before the start of the fight. This was the first ever appearance of the figurative expression in print. Of course, it must have been in verbal use for some time before this, but for how long no one can possibly know. So much for the figurative origin of the phrase, but behind its figurative meaning there must have been a literal one i.e. people must have literally been bringing bacon home for centuries. To bring home a side of bacon or a pig was considered affluent in medieval times and that is how it probably all started. That is why some people, but not etymologists, are tempted to tell stories like the Flitch of Great Dunmow, a village in Essex. Since the early 12th century, a flitch or side of bacon was given by the mayor of Great Dunmow to the married couple of the village that best exemplified fidelity to one another. The winning couple would therefore literally bring home the bacon. There is no doubt the story is true. The Flitch of Great Dunmow is mentioned by Chaucer in The Wife of Bath’s Tale c.1387. The expression may well have been used figuratively between the 12th century and its first appearance in US newspapers 800 years later, but unfortunately no evidence of this has ever been found in print. Until then, Mrs Gans gets the credit.