As sure as eggs is eggs

[UnquietDad]

Why?

Why not "as sure as eggs are eggs"?

Don't be misled - I'm not getting in a huff and campaigning for it to be changed. I'm aware it's one of those "comedy" phrases where the grammar is deliberately wrong, like "who'd a thunk it" and "them's the breaks."

Come to think of it, where did those two come from?...

[asicsgirl]

from the Random Homily Generator. Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs!

[PerkinWarbeck]

I thought it was a bastardisation of "sure as X is X" (ie and not Y).

[Fanella]

Sure as x is x makes sense, never thought of that.

I always wondered why people said 'near as damn it', til I heard MIL say one day "near as damn it is to swearing". Now that made perfect sense.

[MrsBadger]

my mother (obviously an uber-pedant) always said 'as sure as eggs are eggs' so I do too...

the wide use of 'who'd a' thunk it' and 'them's the breaks' is frustrating my Googling

[asicsgirl]

Have to say the 'x is x' explanation sounds highly unlikely to me. Folk etymology?

"eggs is eggs" has got a bit of a My Fair Lady feel to it, to me. Have been looking for evidence that Cockney uses 'is' with plural nouns...

[IorekByrnison]

Sounds more like Beverly Hillbillies type usage to me, but have no idea. Am now desperate to know.

[PuppyMonkey]

Sounds New Yorkish to me, dunno why....

[IorekByrnison]

Hmm, yes that sounds plausible.

[PuppyMonkey]

Sort of Guys n Dolls ish...?