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It's a movie cliche. The original saying (to the coach driver) was supposedly "Home, James, and don't spare the horses!" (The movie one allegedly goes, "Once around the park and home, James"--said to the chauffeur.)
Dates from the mid-1800s; there was also a 1934 song with the same phrase as a title: "Home, James, and don't spare the horses" by Fred Hillebrand.
From "Dictionary of Catch Phrases: American and British from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day" by Eric Partridge, updated and edited by Paul Beal, Scarborough House, Lanham, Md., 1992) in www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/24/messages/392.html; also, www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/favourite/fred_hillebrand/home_james_and_dont_spare_the_3923
Dates from the mid-1800s; there was also a 1934 song with the same phrase as a title: "Home, James, and don't spare the horses" by Fred Hillebrand.
From "Dictionary of Catch Phrases: American and British from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day" by Eric Partridge, updated and edited by Paul Beal, Scarborough House, Lanham, Md., 1992) in www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/24/messages/392.html; also, www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/favourite/fred_hillebrand/home_james_and_dont_spare_the_3923
The British show "Inspector Lewis" (or just "Lewis") references this saying. DI Robbie Lewis had just met DS James Hathaway, who has come to pick him up from the airport; as they prepare to leave, Lewis says, "'Home, James!' I've always wanted to say that." (The comma should be there; it's "Home, James," not "Home James".)
Lewis says it again at the end of the first episode of the third season. As he and DS Hathaway are preparing to leave, with Hathaway driving, he says, "Home, James!"
Lewis says it again at the end of the first episode of the third season. As he and DS Hathaway are preparing to leave, with Hathaway driving, he says, "Home, James!"
by Sammie28 October 04, 2009
Apr 27 Word of the Day
A horoscope so bad that it strikes fear into the heart of the reader, rendering them unable take action or make a decision on anything or to even leave the house. This is caused by a paralyzing fear that those actions or decisions may cause the predictions to come true.
After reading "There is a lot of uncertainty around financial transactions and investments right now, and the wrong decision could result in dire consequences" in his daily Horrorscope, Edward climbed back into bed, pulled the sheets over his head and remained there for the rest of the day.
Edward only had enough gas in his car to get to the gas station but was not sure if he had enough money in his account to pay for gas. His cell phone service had been cut off because his payments were in arrears, and since the only way he could be sure he had enough money (to pay for gas) would be to call the bank, he felt it best to hide in bed and hope his horoscope for tomorrow was more positive.
Edward only had enough gas in his car to get to the gas station but was not sure if he had enough money in his account to pay for gas. His cell phone service had been cut off because his payments were in arrears, and since the only way he could be sure he had enough money (to pay for gas) would be to call the bank, he felt it best to hide in bed and hope his horoscope for tomorrow was more positive.
by Edward Albee Deavers April 28, 2011
2
It's more like, ''Home, James!" referring to your *driver* to get a move on. I first heard my mother coin? this expression at the age of 8. I say 'coin' because i donot know from where it wast derived. We didn't have a driver, nor know any fellows named James. It was more like, let's go. I use this expression when I'm in the car, ready to get a move on, speaking to the driver who may or not go by the given name James. Luckily my new driver is actually named James so this isn't a problem.
by Honey March 30, 2005