origin and meaning of "rubber hits the sky"

[Simon Bastin]

I've come across the phrase "rubber hits the sky" a few times and wonder
what it means. Does anyone have a clue?

From the context I'm guessing it might mean something similar to "pie in the
sky" (ie overly theoretical, not practical) but I'm not sure. But what is
the origin? If so, why invent a new phrase when there is a perfectly good
existing one.

Regards
Simon Bastin
mailto:s...@ansto.gov.au

[GrapeApe]

>I've come across the phrase "rubber hits the sky" a few times and wonder
>what it means. Does anyone have a clue?
>
>From the context I'm guessing it might mean something similar to "pie in
>the
>sky" (ie overly theoretical, not practical) but I'm not sure. But what
>is
>the origin? If so, why invent a new phrase when there is a perfectly good
>existing one.

Sounds like a play on 'rubber hits the road".

Perhaps it is something the pilots of the GoodYear Blimp like to say, but
possibly pilots of other aircraft may have similar sayings.

[kg...@my-deja.com]

In article <20000928002725...@ng-cg1.aol.com>,

grap...@aol.comjunk (GrapeApe) wrote:
> >I've come across the phrase "rubber hits the sky" a few times and
> >wonder>what it means. Does anyone have a clue?
> >
> >From the context I'm guessing it might mean something similar to
> >"pie in the sky" (ie overly theoretical, not practical) but I'm not
> >sure. But what is the origin? If so, why invent a new phrase when
> >there is a perfectly good existing one.
>
> Sounds like a play on 'rubber hits the road".
>

It's probably worth clarifying that "where the rubber hits the road"
was an advertising slogan for a tire company (Was it Goodyear?) and
nowadays means "where it counts most."

> Perhaps it is something the pilots of the GoodYear Blimp like to say,
> but possibly pilots of other aircraft may have similar sayings.
>

I've used it occasionally as a humorous, purposely-mixed metaphor
meaning "where practicality meets pie-in-the-sky visions" or something
like that. The few other times I've heard it, it seems to have been a
mistakenly mixed metaphor.

Regards.
Tommy

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[kg...@my-deja.com]

In article <8qvvgq$cg2$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

kg...@my-deja.com wrote:
>
> It's probably worth clarifying that "where the rubber hits the road"
> was an advertising slogan for a tire company (Was it Goodyear?) and
> nowadays means "where it counts most."
>

The ad jingle came back to me as I was hitting "send."

"The name that's known
Is Firestone
Where the rubber meets the road."

[Truly Donovan]

On Thu, 28 Sep 2000 17:38:21 GMT, kg...@my-deja.com wrote:

>"The name that's known
>Is Firestone
>Where the rubber meets the road."

And overstays its welcome.

--
Truly Donovan
http://www.trulydonovan.com

[GrapeApe]

>"The name that's known
>Is Firestone
>Where the rubber meets the road."

Well pehaps that has solved the "rubber hits the sky" conundrum.

Blow out real good.