词汇 | does macy-s tell gimbels |
词源 | Does Macy’s tell Gimbels? Gimbels department store has long gone out of business, but this expression is still commonly heard. The by now proverbial words arose from a friendly, well- publicized, and well-advertised retailing war between the two giant New York department stores. The expression possibly originated as a publicity gag, perhaps as a line in an Eddie Can- tor comedy skit when a stooge asked Cantor to reveal some dark secret and the comedian replied, “Does Macy’s tell Gim- bels?” Actually, Macy’s often told Gimbels and vice versa. One time Gimbels ran an ad calling attention to Macy’s fabulous an- nual flower show, heading it: “Does Gimbels tell Macy’s? No, Gimbels tells the world!” On another occasion, in 1955, both stores posted signs on their buildings directing shoppers to the other’s store. The Gimbels-Macy’s rivalry was further publi- cized in the film Miracle on 34th Street, in which Macy’s directs customers to Gimbels when it doesn’t have a particular item in stock. |
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