Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 11:13:21 -0800

From: William Seaburg seaburg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]U.WASHINGTON.EDU

Subject: Re: Hens' Teeth



On Thu, 14 Dec 1995, Peter McGraw wrote:



"[it's

so difficult it's] like pulling hens' teeth."



To my knowledge, these never spread beyond the coiner, except for passing

into my family's permanent store of humourous usage.





This was (and still is) one of my mother's favorite proverbial

expressions. I don't know where she learned it--probably from her mother

(my grandmother was from Missouri, my mother was born and raised in Montana).