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Jun 7, 2022 · McCoy was a Black inventor who acquired a number of patents during his career, some of which revolutionized the way society functioned. Here's how his name became synonymous with authenticity in the world of 20th-century inventions.
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Where did the phrase 'the real McCay' come from?
Where did 'the Real McCoy' come from?
What does 'the Real McCoy' mean?
Oct 3, 2010 · The phrase 'the real McCoy' means the genuine article, as opposed to an imitation. It may have originated from a Scottish whisky slogan, a boxer's nickname, or a railroad inventor's device.
There are several sources that are suggested as being the origin of ‘the real McCoy’, for example: McCoy is derived from Mackay, referring to Messrs. Mackay, Edinburgh, who made a brand of fine whisky from 1856 onwards that they promoted as ‘the real MacKay’ from 1870.
The 1856 Scottish mention of “the real MacKay” came before Elijah McCoy’s railroad invention, Kid McCoy’s boxing career, and Bill McCoy’s rum-running escapades, but it’s possible that ...
Elijah McCoy was a prolific black inventor who patented an automatic oiling device for steam engines. His invention was so reliable that people started using "the real McCoy" to mean quality products, but the origin of the phrase is unclear.
Jun 9, 2023 · The phrase "the real McCoy" means "the real thing" or "the genuine article." It may have come from a boxer, an inventor, a rumrunner or a Scottish name. Learn more about the possible origins and how it was used to promote whiskey.
To avoid getting sick or poisoned by these fake drinks, people would ask for the “real McCoy,” meaning they wanted genuine whiskey. Regardless of its origin, the idiom “real McCoy” has become a common expression in English-speaking countries around the world.
