Tell it to the Marines

[Perry Lassiter]

I'm reading The Code Talker about Marine Navajos in WWII. From somewhere I remembered as a kid hearing and using the expression "tell it to the Marines on Guadalcanal," later shortened to "tell it to the Marines." As I recall, it was an expression of disbelief. Anyone else remember this or any associations therewith? Perhaps a different meaning? Since they attacked in Island in '43, I think, the expression must come after that.

[Slava]

Much, much earlier, if this is correct.

[bnjtokyo]

Google ngrams turns up the following in The Westminster review, Vol 18, pg 83, (1833)

"If the Bank pretends to put restraint on itself for public motives, it will find few that it will convince. In the nautical proverb, 'they may tell it to the marines, but the sailors will never believe it.'"

[Perry Lassiter]

No idea it was that old. The Guadacanal addition must have been an unconscious update.