I never understood how that “Olly Ox” got in there..In my neighborhood, growing up, the words we used actually made Sense:. “All Ye, All Ye, Out’s In Free.” .IOW, if you were Out, you could come back IN Free of penalty.And, yes, even though it was Archaic, we still understood the meaning of “All Ye”..
I always thought that the ox reference was an allusion to how slow oxen are in comparison to horses (ie. a cart pulled by horses goes a lot faster than an ox cart), so saying “ox in (or perhaps oxen) free” meant that the slow-pokes were being given a break.
Simon_Jester about 9 years ago
Daffy English Kuh-niggg-utts!
Al Nala about 9 years ago
Well, like, duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude.
JP Steve Premium Member about 9 years ago
Try “Graily-Graily-ox-in-free!”
Tarredandfeathered about 9 years ago
I never understood how that “Olly Ox” got in there..In my neighborhood, growing up, the words we used actually made Sense:. “All Ye, All Ye, Out’s In Free.” .IOW, if you were Out, you could come back IN Free of penalty.And, yes, even though it was Archaic, we still understood the meaning of “All Ye”..
Coyoty Premium Member about 9 years ago
Well, ’e’s the ‘Olly Grail, in’t ’e?
Sisyphos about 9 years ago
I have confidence in a Smart Grail.
BTW, after a lifetime of reflection, my take is that the cry so oft misunderstood was originally “all the other outs in free.”
Tarredandfeathered about 9 years ago
Yes, but at no time in My neighborhood was there anyone giving away Free Oxen so, again, how’d that Ox get in there?
cutiepie29 about 9 years ago
I always thought that the ox reference was an allusion to how slow oxen are in comparison to horses (ie. a cart pulled by horses goes a lot faster than an ox cart), so saying “ox in (or perhaps oxen) free” meant that the slow-pokes were being given a break.