Here, lifted from the net....
Buckley's
slim chance. This is also used in the Buckley's and none (Nunn) expression.
Interesting derivation (courtesy Steve Wilson) - The term "You've got
Buckley's chance" refers to an escaped convict named Buckley. The story goes
that in colonial times, he and two others escaped a penal colony (near
Sydney I think) and shot over the Blue Mountains. The authorities gave chase
but eventually gave up looking for them (some versions of this story say
they gave up after encountering hostile aborigines). They figured the
escapees would either starve to death or be killed by locals. And two of
them did. The only one to survive and stumble out of the bush (years?) later
was Buckley. Thus, "Buckley's chance" means a slim chance... not no chance.
The store name came afterwards and that's when the "two chances" came
about - Buckley's and none (Nunn).
Buckley's (and none)
as in "you've got Buckley's" - You have two chances - Buckley's and none -
from the department store Buckley's and Nunn.... cf "you've got Buckleys" -
see definition of "Buckleys"
David Howard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Printmaker" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 2:09 PM
Subject: Got Buckleys
> Hi
>
> I was wondering if one of the _other_ pedants on this list
> could help me with this? What is the origin of the
> expression "got Buckleys" and exactly what is its meaning?
> Some highly improbable chance, or no chance at all?
>
> Josie
> (a pedant from way back)
>
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