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Was the phrase originally "Further to the right than Genghis Khan", "Further to the right than Attila the Hun", or someone else?

NGrams for "to the right than Genghis" didn't get any matches, nor did "to the right than Attila". I couldn't find any hits relating to the English language when doing a google search for ""further to the right than Genghis" phrase" either.

Golden Cuy
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  • Why do you call it hyperbole? – curiousdannii Dec 24 '15 at 06:39
  • @curiousdannii because they don't usually go on to slaughter millions of people. – Golden Cuy Dec 24 '15 at 07:11
  • @AndrewGrimm "further to the right than Marshal Pétain" is a phrase that has gained pretty much currency in France these days... https://www.google.fr/search?sclient=tablet-gws&site=&source=hp&q=get+a+wild+hair&oq=%22get+a+wild+&gs_l=tablet-gws.1.0.0i19l3.36982.189662.0.191587.53.29.24.0.0.0.2541.12243.0j9j5j3j2j0j1j9-3.23.0....0...1c.1.64.tablet-gws..10.43.5340.0.9R7M2B0s_nY#q=%22further+to+the+right+than+Marshal+Petain%22 – Elian Dec 24 '15 at 08:10
  • I doubt that you can nail it down. "Further to the right/left" would have first been used literally, and this would not have occurred until after "right" and "left" acquired their political meanings (which various theories of origin would place in the 18th or 19th century). Then the literal use would have been obvious and unremarkable. After that, the leap to hyperbole was similarly obvious and unremarkable. – Hot Licks Dec 24 '15 at 13:41

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I don't think it has a specific origin. In a literal sense there are usages from the early 19th century. In the figurative sense you are suggesting it appears to have been used from the first part of the 20h century.

Ngram: further to the right than

From Transatlantic: (1943)

  • In the European meaning of the terms, Mr. Roosevelt is certainly further to the " left " than Mr. Dewey, and Mr. Dewey further to the " right " than Mr. Roosevelt. But to use such a distinction without qualification or explanation would be misleading...

From The Twentieth Century : (1950)

  • .. it from being regarded as ' conservative.' This last argument was also a reason operating in favour of retaining Liberal co-operation ; for as long as there was still a party in the Government further to the Right than the Christian Democrats, ...

A few usage examples:

Further to the right than Attila:

  • I sat to your left, unfortunately, in the happy times when you said I am further to the right than Attila the Hun. That is not true. I respect you for your ability to articulate properly and your integrity and honesty. I truthfully say to you, the Armed ... (Review of arms control and disarmament activities. 1974)

Furter to the right than Genghis Khan:

  • The honourable member for Werribee gave the impression that he was further to the right than Genghis Khan on this issue. I shall quote from the May edition of the Victorian Wilderness News, the headline of which is "East Gippsland Parks (Victoria Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: Legislative Assembly- 1988)