p.o. n.
1. a postal order.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | ‘’Arry on the Turf’ in Punch 29 Nov. 297/1: So if you can drop a P.O. for that quid [...] It will do me to rights. | |
| Mrs. ’Arris 39: Send us a P.C. or a P.O. [...] when you get there. |
2. (US) a post office.
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Wash. Post 11 Nov. Misc. 3/4: No longer do ‘yeggs’ come to New York to spend ‘white’ money obtained from country ‘P.Os’ and ‘jugs’ as postoffices and banks are called in unregenerate circles. | |
| You Can’t Win (2000) 95: You’re a cinch to get a coin and a bundle of stickers out of every ‘P.O.’. | |
| Madball (2019) 117: I suppose you were in close touch with the p.o. because they were watching for those new twenties. | |
| Tales (1969) 25: ‘Where do you work?’ ‘The P.O. with the rest of the fellas.’. | |
| Ladies’ Man (1985) 14: I put in forty fuckin’ hours a week in that goddamn PO. | |
| Breaks 59: How would you like to work in the post office [...] the ol’ P.O.? |
3. a police officer.
 | in Chicago Defender 29 Feb. 11: A certain capon ran off with a society girl’s P.O. husband and won’t let him come back! | |
| Crack War (1991) 122: When offer to kill P.O. made by Todd, there was a discussion of consequences for killing P.O. |
4. (US) a parole or probation officer.
| ‘Good-Doing Wheeler’ in et al. Life (1976) 78: But being real greasy, it ain’t very easy, / Dodging the P.O. and the man. | |
| Panic in Needle Park (1971) 69: I’m on parole. [...] I can’t be staying out now. [...] If the PO goes over to the house, it’s going to be all over. | |
| False Starts 333: It was put to me flatly by a P.O. | |
| Crack War (1991) 31: No one ever whacks their P.O. | |
| Drama City 148: ‘You doin’ fine.’ ‘Tell it to my P.O.’. | |
| (con. 1972) What It Was 89: He’s on parole but his PO says he hasn’t reported to her in months. | |
| Straight Dope [ebook] — I have to test for my PO tomorrow. PO stood for parole officer. |