Knowing onions

[FredPuli]

Why do people say 'He knows his onions' meaning that he is an expert in some trade or skill or that he is worldly and wise ?How do onions come in to it ?

[Quizmonster]

Click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-kno1.htm for the view of the noted lexicographer/etymologist, Michael Quinion, Fred.

[FredPuli]

Thanks QM. I suppose having read the link we can now all shout 'Oi! Oi!, That's shallot !' (in the words of some long forgotten comedian)

[Quizmonster]

Ah! Jimmy Wheeler, eh, Fred? No, we haven't all forgotten him!