"Shot his wad"

Looked through topics, did a search, didn't come up with anything. So hopefully this isn't D_B.

But I was reading through Jackie MacMullan's column on the wire about Game 2 of the ALCS and stumbled upon this gem.

Me thinks maybe Francona gets a little too worked up calling to the bullpen.
Think this is just a case of someone using a phrase without realizing it's other connotations?
Even so, why would you ever use "shot his wad" to begin with?

 

The last time I read it was in a "Spitball Championship" gamer.

 

This is a good question. I've heard quite a few respectable people use this in formal situations - speeches, etc. I thought I was the only one who's mind was in the gutter ...

 

Read it to my deskers. All of them said they'd change it.

 

From dictionary.com

shoot one's wad, Informal.
a. to spend all one's money: He shot his wad on a new car.
b. to expend all one's energies or resources at one time: She shot her wad writing her first novel and her second wasn't as good.
c. Slang: Vulgar. (of a man) to have an orgasm.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wad

 

I agree on changing it. I was just saying I've heard people drop it in even formal conversations and I've never been sure how to respond to it.

I once had a female editor talk about not blowing our wad on one story ...

 

"OK, boss, I fixed that thing."

 

I'd certainly change it, although originally it had to do with loading a musket rifle, tamping a wad of cotton down on top of the powder to hold it in, so when you fired the gun, the cotton wad shot out of the muzzle of the gun (along with the bullet/ball of course).

Of course, the expression "cold-cocked" is used pretty frequently, and that originally WAS pretty risque, too.

 

I always stumble over "fully blown AIDS." Surely that started as someone's frat-boy joke.

I would say "fully developed AIDS" or something. And I'm not PC or anything close to it.

 

Damn, Doc, the turnaround time there was impressive.

Funny clip. Definitely over the top. I bet they got letters.

 

The originator of the phrase ponders further legal action.