Where did the saying as thick as mince originate from?

The saying "as thick as mince" is believed to have originated in British English, where "mince" refers to finely chopped meat, commonly used in dishes like minced meat pies. The phrase suggests something that is dense or of a mixed, unrefined nature, often used to describe a person who is not particularly intelligent. It likely emerged in the 19th century, reflecting the common culinary practice of mincing meat, which would have been familiar to the population at the time.