Real McCoy

Etymology:

• The expression has two possibilities of origination. First one is associated to a boxer of the late 19th Century who was known as Kid McCoy. (The real name of Kid McCoy was Norman Selby). He was a great boxer and he became extremely popular that other fighters started to call themselves Kid McCoy. So, Mr. Selby had to alter his name as “the real McCoy”. The second possibility is related to Elijah McCoy (1843-1929) who was primarily an inventor of various lubricants parts for the steam engines.