Die Yiddish is the most common expression used in the 1920’s and this includes many of the writers who use it. In those early examples it was applied to persons rather than things, and frequently preceded by the adverb “strictly” as in “This singer is strictly from hunger..no one will hear as soon as someone explains it.” So I’ve always taken it as suggesting that someone was doing a job purely for the paycheck, without bringing any enthusiasm or commitment to it, and taking any satisfaction from it.

Die Yiddish is the most common expression used in the 1920’s and this includes many of the writers who use it. In those early examples it was applied to persons rather than things, and frequently preceded by the adverb “strictly” as in “This singer is strictly from hunger..no one will hear as soon as someone explains it.” So I’ve always taken it as suggesting that someone was doing a job purely for the paycheck, without bringing any enthusiasm or commitment to it, and taking any satisfaction from it.