This was most entertaining! I used this term today at lunch. My husband was musing aloud that he thought this term came from the purchase of a farm! “Lock” meaning the key to the domicile, “stock” meaning the livestock, and “barrel” meaning all the accoutrements associated with the property. I said that I thought it was in reference to the sale of a gun. THANK YOU for proving me right!!! I videotaped my husband saying “you were right”, because this may never happen again, hahahaha…..
I have also heard this phrase referencing pre-prohibition Tied House. The brewery owned them “Lock, Stock, and Barrel” meaning the key to the door, everything inside from bar stools to the bar itself and of course the barrels of beer. I like your explanation better.
its the entire parts of a gun..the LOCK is not a lock,its the firing mechanism…it locks!!!…stock is the body of the gun and i think the barrel is easy to figure out!..jeeze theres some thick dreamers about!
in reference to the first statement on here about flintlocks.there are many types of muskets….note “LOCK”in all and you will see “LOCK”in all cases referes to the fireing mechanism.in ascending order of use in time…match lock,flint lock and cap lock muskets..just to reiterate where”lock”comes from..cap lock muskets dont lock cord or a flint into place,it hits a precussion cap with a hammer..its the mechanism itself is the lock..hope that clears things up?but is stil refered to as a cap lock musket.
Thomas Ackley:
June 3rd, 2018 at 6:27 pm
I believe that , in general, the phrase “lock stock and barrel, like the phrase “hook, line and sinker refer to, as is said, “the whole thing.
However, the common usage of “bought it lock, stock and barrel”, like “swallowed it hook, line and sinker” both imply that the entity who did either of these things was gullible to ther extreme and was not only caught by the “hook” but went for the entire fabrication inluding the line and sinker as well. Thus indicating not oinbly “the whole thing” emphatically, The whole thing to an extreme degree”.
Matt:
January 3rd, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Have you ever heard of the term lock, stock and key? I have heard some people use this particular phrase before, but perhaps the idiom has changed over the years in some areas as they stopped using muskets. Thoughts?
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jeanie perkins:
July 2nd, 2013 at 2:47 pm
This was most entertaining! I used this term today at lunch. My husband was musing aloud that he thought this term came from the purchase of a farm! “Lock” meaning the key to the domicile, “stock” meaning the livestock, and “barrel” meaning all the accoutrements associated with the property. I said that I thought it was in reference to the sale of a gun. THANK YOU for proving me right!!! I videotaped my husband saying “you were right”, because this may never happen again, hahahaha…..
Have a wonderful day. I know I will!
jeanie perkins
http://www.jeanie@jeanieperkins.com
Darrell Smith:
September 17th, 2015 at 8:47 am
I have also heard this phrase referencing pre-prohibition Tied House. The brewery owned them “Lock, Stock, and Barrel” meaning the key to the door, everything inside from bar stools to the bar itself and of course the barrels of beer. I like your explanation better.
Sandra Reynolds:
January 11th, 2016 at 5:05 am
Funny. Off the wall. Pleased to have found you.
david woodward:
December 17th, 2016 at 8:29 pm
its the entire parts of a gun..the LOCK is not a lock,its the firing mechanism…it locks!!!…stock is the body of the gun and i think the barrel is easy to figure out!..jeeze theres some thick dreamers about!
david woodward:
December 18th, 2016 at 3:54 am
so when your say lock,stock and barrel..it means everything…as in”i sold my house,contents and all!!lock stock and barrel”..emphasises the statement
david woodward:
December 18th, 2016 at 4:36 am
in reference to the first statement on here about flintlocks.there are many types of muskets….note “LOCK”in all and you will see “LOCK”in all cases referes to the fireing mechanism.in ascending order of use in time…match lock,flint lock and cap lock muskets..just to reiterate where”lock”comes from..cap lock muskets dont lock cord or a flint into place,it hits a precussion cap with a hammer..its the mechanism itself is the lock..hope that clears things up?but is stil refered to as a cap lock musket.
Thomas Ackley:
June 3rd, 2018 at 6:27 pm
I believe that , in general, the phrase “lock stock and barrel, like the phrase “hook, line and sinker refer to, as is said, “the whole thing.
However, the common usage of “bought it lock, stock and barrel”, like “swallowed it hook, line and sinker” both imply that the entity who did either of these things was gullible to ther extreme and was not only caught by the “hook” but went for the entire fabrication inluding the line and sinker as well. Thus indicating not oinbly “the whole thing” emphatically, The whole thing to an extreme degree”.
Matt:
January 3rd, 2022 at 1:31 pm
Have you ever heard of the term lock, stock and key? I have heard some people use this particular phrase before, but perhaps the idiom has changed over the years in some areas as they stopped using muskets. Thoughts?