4 ms·

Fascinating, I always thought this referenced retiring on a farm.

• HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago
  Close. The term originates from payments the War Department (now DoD) made to families after someone died in combat. In some cases the payment was enough for the family to pay off the mortgage, so the dead person was said to have "bought the farm."
  • JJMcJ 4y ago
    Exact origin is obscure. Some think it relates to paying a farmer, some that it refers to a death benefit.