Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) privileged information, intimate details, ‘the inside story’; thus adj.

1901		W. Irwin ‘Prologue’ in Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum n.p.: On the low down, dear Mame, my looty loo, That’s why I’ve cooked this batch of rhymes for you.
1908		B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 34: I can give you the low down on A. Mutt.
1919		Van Loan ‘Mister Conley’ in Score by Innings (2004) 432: You needn’t expect me to tip off any real low-down stuff on the series.
1923		Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith (1993) 495: Listen Ed, while I slip you the low-down.
1929		W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 11: I got the lowdown from Scabby.
1930		J. Lait Gangster Girl 193: Here’s the real lowdown on why the Big Boy was shot.
1930		E. Glyn Flirt & Flapper 22: Flapper: The dope [...] means the low down on things.
1937		E. Anderson Thieves Like Us (1999) 192: I want to get some low down on Mexico.
1941		K. Tennant Battlers 220: He’s going to give us the low-down about the new award.
1942		W. Winchell On Broadway 30 Apr. [synd. col.] The terrific lowdown on Congress in Fortune.
1949		Wodehouse Mating Season 113: I had no option but to slip her the lowdown.
1952		Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 194: The lowdown on the fixing of college football coaches to insure point spreads comes out.
1956		S. Selvon Lonely Londoners 133: Moses [...] giving them all the latest lowdown and ballad as they coast a drink.
1965		C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 34: The lady next door always had the lowdown.
1967		K. Tennant Tell Morning This 31: ‘Did anyone ever give you the lowdown on how Rene came to live with Ma?’.
1971		Wodehouse Much Obliged, Jeeves 34: He had a lot of business to go into with his new secretary, giving her the low-down on her duties.
1978		R. Price Ladies’ Man (1985) 34: I couldn’t bring myself to give her the lowdown.
1985		B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 118: He enjoys a sip himself, the old hypocrite, and he gives me the latest low-down on Gwen.
1990		S. Morgan Homeboy 135: Kitty gave him the lowdown on being able to write or visit Joe.
1999		Guardian Guide 26 June-2 July 51: Get the lowdown on the 20th century’s answer to Prince Albert.
2000		Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 86: Cover stars The High & Mighty give us the lowdown on school, life and kidnapping.
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] Blythe gave Les the low-down on how her father ran a furniture company.
2010		J. Ellroy Hilliker Curse 14: He had the lowdown on bribable Jew judges.
2016		D. Whish-Wilson Old Scores [ebook] [I]t was Heenan, wanting the low-down.
1993		Aus. Word Map 🌐 He gave me the lowdown.
2021		J. Ellroy Widespread Panic 4: It’s the lexicon of the lowdown. It’s the dialogue of the dish.