Second of two idioms to do with people's names. What does rob Peter to pay Paul mean?
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Owl Zero
ANSWERS: 3
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When St Paul's Cathedral in London was damaged by fire or war, I can't remember which, items were taken from the neighbouring Church of St Peter in order to make the repairs to St Pauls.
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It goes back to 1963 and the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary. It has to do with the lopsided royalty contract that wss disadvantageous to Peter Yarrow wherein he was required to accept either chickens or Rubles as payment and Paul Stookey was paid in $20 gold pieces. If chickens or Rubles were not handy, then Peter lost his payment and Paul was credited with the difference. Incidentally, Mary Travers was paid by standard check and as far as I know none of those checks bounced.
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The second answer is the closest to what Bartlett's familiar quotations says but it much older than WWII It goes back to the 1500's Edward VI St Peter's in Westminster to fix St Paul's in London.
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