........'for toffee' ?

[Mattk]

why when someone is bad at something eg singing they cant sing 'for toffee' ?

[Quizmonster]

The earliest recorded use of the phrase - from around a century ago - was from a soldier commenting on someone's ability at shooting...ie "can't shoot for toffee". I wonder, therefore, whether it might have started life as a reference to a prize of sweets at a fairground shooting-gallery, before becoming a bit more serious during World War I. Just an idea.

[Mattk]

certainly sounds feasible - thanks

[lion heart]

I thought the saying was cant sing for a peanut!