A Thai reader asked recently the meaning of the expression "early doors" which he had heard used frequently in English football commentaries. It has become quite a familiar observation in sport to indicate a game is still at an early stage. It also creeps into everyday language although perhaps in the more common form of "early days".
There are two explanations about the origin of "early doors". In the old days in England, theatres and music halls would sometimes open their doors well before the show started which enabled early arrivals to choose prime seats if they paid a little extra. This became known as "early doors".
The second derivation has its origins in pubs. In former times when there were tighter licensing laws in England, pubs closed in the afternoon. This led to customers in the early evening queueing up outside watering holes waiting for opening time.
