Green’s Dictionary of Slang

ping n.

[SE ping, echoic of a sudden high-pitched noise]

1. (Aus.) a try, an attempt; thus have a ping at, to have a go at.

Show quotations
[Aus](con. 1941) R. Beilby Gunner 166: Was he having a ping at the Boy-Bastard, or something?
[Aus]Herald (Melbourne) 1 May 19: She was near last at the 200 metres and when Robert (Heffernan) pulled her out she decided to really have a ping.
[Aus]S. Maloney Nice Try 273: Twenty yards from the goal-mouth, he steadied and took a ping.

2. (N.Z. drugs) an injection of a narcotic drug [ping v. (3)].

Show quotations
[NZ]G. Newbold Big Huey 252: ping (n) 1. Dose of narcotic in a syringe.
[NZ]Eve. Post (Wellington) 5 Apr. 19: Peter’s early-days addiction routine started with a ‘ping’ in the morning and a cup of coffee [DNZE].
[NZ]D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 140/2: ping n. 1 an injection of intravenous drugs.

In phrases

cop a ping (v.)

(UK) to receive an electronic message, e.g. a text or SMS.

Show quotations
[UK]T. Thorne (ed.) ‘Drill Slang Glossary’ at Forensic Linguistic Databank 🌐 Cop a ping – receive an electronic message.