Green’s Dictionary of Slang

thump n.

[SE thump, a blow, to hit]

1. a euph. for fuck, the phr. (1)

Show quotations
[UK]Marvel III:60 11: What the thump are you doing here?
[UK]K. Waterhouse Soho 241: What the thump had it to do with this bugger, anyway?

2. (US) a thrill.

Show quotations
[US]R.L. Bellem ‘Poison Payoff’ Hollywood Detective Dec. 🌐 I drew a thump out of having her hold hands with me.

3. (US black) a street-fight, esp. with fists or knives.

Show quotations
[US]H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: thump n. a fight.
[US]E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 78: I got into a terrible thump.

In phrases

go the thump (v.)

(Aus.) to hit, to have a fight.

Show quotations
[Aus](con. 1945–6) P. Doyle Devil’s Jump (2008) 41: Ron was already around the table and about to go the thump.
take the thump (v.)

(Aus.) to suffer a knock-out punch.

Show quotations
C. Drew ‘Gorilla Grogan’ in Bulletin (Sydney) 26 July 40/3: The debate is to be advertised as for fifteen rounds, but Gorilla is to take the thump in the seventh.