To attain success or to meet a desired goal…
The origin of this phrase is widely disputed, with many referring to an English tradition dating from the 1100′s. A newlywed couple had made such an impression on a church elder with their love for each other that he gifted them a flitch — or a side — of bacon. Over the years, devoted newlyweds who won the favor of the church “brought home the bacon.” Others believe the phrase originated with the old fairground contest of capturing a greased pig and winning the animal as a prize. The winner “brought home the bacon.”
The first documented use of the phrase (altered version) was on September 3, 1906. The Reno Evening Gazette reported that the announcer of the World Lightweight Championship boxing match between Joe Gans and Oscar Nelson read a telegram from Gans’ mother aloud: “Joe, the eyes of the world are on you. Everybody says you ought to win. Peter Jackson will tell me the news, and you bring back the bacon.” It’s not known if she made up the phrase, or if she was repeating something already quite common, but there is no proof of its usage before that day. Gans won the fight on a foul in the 42nd round — retaining his title — and he replied by telegraph that he “had not only the bacon, but the gravy.”
So there you have it. Now I’m off to the market to bring home the bacon…