Kelly day n. a day off or vacation day taken at a scheduled interval in addition to normal time off or vacation. Also Kelly shift. Etymological Note: It has been claimed as early as 1953 that this term comes from Edward Joseph Kelly, mayor of Chicago from 1933 to 1947. He is said to have put in place a similar plan for firefighters in 1936. An article on the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois web site includes a footnote for an article that may include more information about the origin of the term: “Action of City Council in Chicago Secures New Working Schedule for Fire Fighters,” International Fire Fighter, Washington, D.C., Vol. XIX, No. 6, June 1936, pp. 5-6. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
After our chat about tongue twisters, a Chicago, Illinois, listener shares one that looks much easier than it sounds: Irish wristwatch. This is part of a complete episode.
Related
Michael from Jones, Michigan, says he was stationed on a U.S. Army base in Germany in the early 1960s. If there was a gust of cold wind, a fellow soldier would say the hawk’s out. This expression is largely associated with Chicago, Illinois...