Message 11194 of 39188 in General Discussion

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Wow! Finally my PhD. research has a purpose.
The phrase initially appeared in American restaurant kitchens during the 
thirties, meaning "we're out of something", and was later reappropriated into 
bars, meaning what you described above. I think the relationship between this 
slide is pretty self evident.
As to the origin of the phrase, the theory goes that it is cockney rhyming 
slang (like "apples and pears" equals stairs, or "dog and bone" means phone), 
and was intended to rhyme with "nix" meaning, of course, "nothing".

As with most good things, the phrase initially began this side of the Atlantic 
wink.