OT: Origin of "Spring Forward, Fall Back."

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OT: Origin of "Spring Forward, Fall Back."

posted by Barry Popik
Sat, 03/10/2007 - 2:47pm

This changing-the-clock ordeal is really a federal issue, and has been all over the media this week. For New York City, it can be a "mini-Y2K."

I discussed "spring forward, fall back" some time ago with my language colleagues. The earliest that I found for the phrase was 50 years ago, in this Walter Winchell column (attributing it to the Los Angeles Examiner):

12 October 1957, Burlington (NC) Daily Times-News, "Walter Winchell of New York," pg. 4:

New Yorkers and other easterners who enjoy Daylight Savings Time until October's end are recommended to the Los Angeles Examiner's clever and simple four-word memo to put the clock ahead or back..."Spring forward, Fall back."