Saying: Buckley's and None Saying: Buckley's and None

Have you heard the saying: Buckley's and None?

What does it mean and what are it's origins?

The saying basically means you have "no chance" of achieving something.

The uniquely Australian Buckley's and None is the same as "fat chance" meaning very little or no possibility, as in A fact chance he has of coming in first, or You think they'll get married? Fat chance! A related expression is a fat lot, meaning "very little or none at all," as in A fat lot of good it will do her.

Origins

As with many sayings, it's origins are disputed.

The three most common origins are:

1.Buckley's and Nunn - Buckley's and None

It was combined with the name of a popular former Melbourne department store Buckley's and Nunn, to mean very little or no chance-despite the fact the real Buckley took his impossible chance for freedom and survived. Crumpton Nunn

2. William Buckley - Buckley's and None

William Buckley was a convict who escaped a penal colony in 1803. It was thought his chances of survival were very small leading to the phrase "you've got Buckley's or none" (or simply "you've got Buckley's").

3. Mars Buckley - Buckley's chance

A reference to Mr Buckley of the Bombala region of southern New South Wales, who sued the government over title to land, the action seeming to have little prospect of success. Mars Buckley ensured that the Bank of Australasia would have no chance of using his money to pay other depositors. The bank thus had "Buckley's chance" of getting his money.

Theories

Troy Lennon in the HeraldSun tried to tell us Escaped convict William Buckley: The man who gave us Buckley's chance. But he failed to support it in his article.

Peter Mitchell also in the HeraldSun says the stronger theory is that it relates to a man who was once a Mornington Peninsula resident, our very own William Buckley. Only trouble is, he doesn't support his 'stronger theory' with any evidence. During the time he wandered around (32 years), Victoria was largely unsettled, so there was no-one using the phrase.

Our opinion: We suspect a combination. It's unlikely that William Buckley's escape would have entered the vocabulary except maybe "You've got Buckley's." but even that was a slim chance like it's own meaning. It's very Australian to join words and associations as with Strine language. Combing Buckley and the name of the department store makes very good sense. Garry Linnell's book Buckley's Chance simply used the connection to sell his book.. "He had two chances, Buckley's and none".

---

❊ Web Links ❊

➼ Saying: Buckley's and None 

❊ Also See.. ❊

➼ William Buckley







Update Page