perform, v. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

perform v.

1. in sexual uses.

(a) to have sexual intercourse; thus performance n.

1607		Middleton Trick to Catch the Old One II i: I love a’ life to prattle with a rich widow; ’tis pretty, methinks, when our tongues go together: and then to promise much and perform little.
1613		Beaumont & Fletcher Captain IV v: Though you perform, As you think, little, yet you satisfy My appetite.
c.1642		T. Killigrew Parson’s Wedding (1664) III v: If he did not perform, he shall come at night, and pay his scores.
1660		Man in the Moon 2 I Oct. 11: Father Hewson was of the same Society as St. Hugh, not failing in the performance of the same work with his Lieutenants wife at Plimouth, as he did with the Butchers at White-Chappel.
a.1690		‘Pindarick’ Harleian Mss. 6913.72: And when they can perform no more She’l rail at ’em and kick ’em out of door.
1708		N. Ward Adam and Eve 94: Teaz’d and tir’d with the Fumbling Performances of her generous Keeper, ... communicating her Favours to some more vigorous Gallant.
1965		G. Melly Owning Up (1974) 51: By the time I went down to breakfast he was sober enough to perform.
1974		G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 197: After Juliet, performing with this woman meant less to Sneed than pissing might have.
1985		S. Berkoff West in Decadence and Other Plays (1985) 98: While mum performs with ‘uncle’ up the stairs.
2005		J. Stahl I, Fatty 61: I could not perform at all on my wedding night.

(b) (US gay) to fellate.

1972

2. (Aus.) to display extreme anger or bad temper, to swear loudly, to make a great fuss.

1901		‘Miles Franklin’ My Brilliant Career 163: Bad-tempered is a tame name for it. You should have seen the dust he raised the other day with old Benson. He just did perform.
1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Aug. 43/2: One day one of the strangers lifted the lid of Bill’s can just as he was landing a couple of old buck yabbies off one bait, and Bill did perform. He gave the intruder a heap of his best language.
1917		‘Banjo’ Paterson ‘Sitting in Judgement’ Three Elephant Power 90: The defeated ladies immediately began to ‘perform’ — that is, to ask the universe at large whether anyone ever heard the like of that!
1951		D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 73: He performed for a bit more after that and I let him go on. When he had talked himself dry, he went off.
1967		‘Whisper All Aussie Dict.’ in Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxviii 10/1: perform: Make a nuisance of oneself. Bung on an act.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 83/1: perform to throw a tantrum.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].

3. (UK Und.) to commit a crime, esp. when it involves violence.

[1873		Sl. Dict. 251: Perform to carry out a design, generally a dishonest one. To ‘perform on a flat’ is to cozen a fool].
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 6: I’ve never actually seen him perform but with guys like Morty you don’t have to have seen it to know it can be done.

perform on (v.)

1. of a man, to have sexual intercourse.

1890–1904

2. to cheat, to deceive.

1890–1904