expressions - One for the money, two for the show


What does the expression



[x] for the money



mean?


I remember hearing the topic title in a rap song (can’t remember which, might be Eminem), and there seem to be movies named after this pattern: Two For the Money with Al Pacino and One For the Money, an upcoming comedy.


Urban Dictionary does not seem to know this expression, neither does dict.cc give a proper translation.


What does it mean and where does it come from?



Answer



My impression is that



One for the money. Two for the show. Three to make ready. And four to go.



(or "three to get ready" in contemporary English) is something that children say when they start a race (the running starting on "go"). Anyway, it's appears in this 1872 book, (it's not a race here, but FumbleFingers has found another 1872 citation where it is used for a race).


I would assume that "the money" refers to the prize for winning, and "the show" to the spectacle of the race. Generally, a children's race won't have either of these (unlike, say a professional horse race), but it doesn't hurt to pretend.


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