on adv.1
1. terms of intoxication [Hotten (1864) suggests that the intoxicated person is ‘on the road’, presumably to collapse].
(a) tipsy, slightly drunk.
Naval Chron. VII 273: The Amelia’s men being a little on, could not bear being thwarted, and a violent scuflle ensued . | ||
Derby Day 119: She’ll be ‘on’, sir, as sure as eggs is eggs. | ||
Night Side of N.Y. 52: Now and then there sallies forth from a drinking-salloon some belated market-gardener from New Jersey, who has got ‘pretty well on’. | ||
Leeds Times 28 Mar. 6/5: He is bloomin’ well brewered, there’s no kid. He was on, s’help me tatur! | ||
Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Jan. 12/3: How to get ‘on’: Drink a quart of colonial beer. | ||
‘’Arry on the Merry Month of May’ in Punch 16 May 229/1: Returning at dusk with the beer on. | ||
Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 6 Feb. 6/3: Some woman, taking advantage of her masque, would accost some male individual and ask him [...] ‘was he on’. | ||
Minor Dialogues 288: He’s a bit too handy with his walking-stick, though, sometimes, when he’s a trifle on. | ||
‘The Chinaman’s Ghost’ in Roderick (1972) 351: We nearly always wanted to fight each other when we got a bit on. | ||
In London’s Heart 85: You said he was always a bit on, Dook [...] he ought to be easy enough to tackle if that’s right. | ||
Canker at the Heart 9: Mind when I cleared out the boss and the ganger-man that night, old mate, me being a bit on? | ||
London Street Games 154: He was a bit on, that night, was Mr. Perkins. | ||
Adventures of Mrs. May 21: There’s no good argyfyin’ with a gentleman, ’speshly when ’e’s a bit on. | ||
(con. 1830s–60s) All That Swagger 139: We might have been a little on, not being used to liquor. | ||
Brown’s Requiem 28: [I]n his perpetual T-Bird haze he can transform his wino fantasies into insights [...] , for I was exhilarated myself, and felt the need of his stimulus. | ||
Strip Jack 233: I was well on by then, mind. |
(b) in a general sense, using a particular drug regularly, addicted to a drug; note, where the drug is specified see on prep. (9a)
Lang. Und. (1981) 106/2: To Be on. Var. of To Be on drugs. To be addicted and actively indulging the habit. | ‘Lang. of the Und. Narcotic Addict’ Pt 2 in||
Junkie (1966) 121: It took me just three days to get back on. | ||
Down These Mean Streets (1970) 115: ‘I wish I had me some stuff.’ ‘You on, man?’ ‘Yeah, you?’. | ||
Giveadamn Brown (1997) 88: ‘Did you tell Harry you were once on the stuff?’. |
(c) intoxicated on a drug of any kind.
(con. 1948) Flee the Angry Strangers 247: If hashish don’ put you on, lady, like-you better stick to lusho. | ||
Web of the City (1983) 162: The kids were on. They were real high. Sky. | ||
Naked Lunch (1968) 254: Meet a girl in the hall and I see she is on and ask where is a score? | ||
Baron’s Court All Change (2011) 153: ‘Get on this [spliff] man, it’ll do you the world of good’. | ||
(con. 1940s–60s) Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1980) in Huncke Reader (1998) 186: It wasn’t difficult to see she was obviously on, and I said, ‘Baby, you look straight.’. | ‘Alvarez’ in||
Corner (1998) 77: And then, at last, she’s in and they’re on, the pinkish cloud rising into the syringe as bottom-line proof. |
2. involved in, part of.
(a) involved in a wager; thus get on v., to place a bet; you’re on phr., your bet has been taken.
Sporting Mag. XXXIX. 23: They declared themselves off, a thing unknown in sporting, after they had been on [OED]. | ||
Life in the West I 45: [H]is lordship instanter would have declared himself ‘on,’ (in sporting parlance). | ||
Spirit of the Times (N.Y.) 5 Mar. 20/1: Other parties were anxious to ‘get on’ at this price, but could not succeed. | ||
General Bounce (1891) 190: ‘Come Bracketts, spring a point, and I’ll put you ‘on’ about ‘Sennacherib’ for the Goodwood Cup.’. | ||
N.Y. Clipper 14 Jan. 3/3: [I]f the plaintiff [...] should [...] endeavor to ‘get on’ a ‘good thing,’ he will receive the ‘cold shoulder’. | ||
(con. 1839) Fights for the Championship 149: Many who lamented the impossibility of ‘getting on’ before the fight have now [...] the consolation of feeling that they have ‘got off’ lightly. | ||
, , | Sl. Dict. 191: On ‘I’m on’ also expresses a person’s acceptance of an offered bet. To get on a horse or a man is to make bets on it or him. | |
Pall Mall Gaz. 15 May 12/1: A race of budding swindlers [...] classed with Mr Charlton who plays ‘dark’ at billiards in the hope of getting some money ‘on’ before contending for the cue. | ||
Sporting Gaz. (London) 11 Feb. 11/3: And those who are ‘on,’ resting calm in their strength, / Think to silence all other ‘great guns’. | ||
Beautiful Wretch III 27: I’ll bet you five sovereigns to one that they let him out on the next application [...] Are you on? | ||
Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Feb. 6/2: We’ve had, we own, a splendid grin / O’er your most fearful, hard-earned win; / But our smiles fade, Canadian son – How can we get our money on? | ||
Sporting Times 29 Mar. 2/5: M stands for the ‘Master,’ the far famed ‘John,’ / Whose gee-gees—thank goodness—I never am ‘on’. | ||
Tales of the Ex-Tanks 152: ‘I’ll bet you a hunded the king wins,’ said I. [...] ‘You’re on,’ said the dealer. | ||
Bulletin (Sydney) 27 Oct. 24/1: Sydney shop-totes swindle was never more glaring than on Saturday. [...] Once in a way big divs. are heard of, but ’tis any odds that the manipulator himself is the only one then ‘on.’. | ||
Bar-20 iii: ‘Yore on,’ promptly responded Hopalong, who would bet on anything. | ||
Illus. Police News 10 Aug. 12/4: ‘What’s the odds! I’m on!’. | Shadows of the Night in||
Chillicothe (MO) Constitution 9 Jan. 3/1: ‘You’re on,’ he said strongly. | ||
Grifter 115: ‘A man could get “on” easy enough if we had the Tote’. | ||
Coll. Short Stories (1941) 113: ‘I’m offerin’ you this Tracy bout. Take it or leave it.’ ‘All right; I’m on,’ said Midge. | ‘Champion’ in||
Final Count 814: If yer gets on now yer gets on at 66 to 1. | ||
Red Wind (1946) 205: You’re on, sucker. | ‘Guns At Cyrano’s’ in||
Lucky Palmer 3: He was forced to listen to the face without being able to get his two shillings on. | ||
They’re a Weird Mob (1958) 151: ‘Bet y’ another dollar ’e’s got a rabbit.’ ‘Yer on, mate.’. | ||
(con. 1940s) Do Not Go Gentle (1962) 235: ‘Make it five!’ ‘You’re on!’ They shook hands. | ||
Only Fools and Horses [TV script] You’re on! | ‘A Losing Streak’||
Llama Parlour 23: ‘You won’t survive LA, I betcha.’ [...] ‘You’re on,’ I said. ‘One hundred bucks.’. | ||
See You on the Radio 103: You say, ‘I bet you a dollar.’ He says, ‘You’re on.’. | ||
Steve Yeager 116: ‘Bet you a box of chocolates against a ham sandwich I can.’ ‘You’re on,’ she nodded airily. | ||
Viva La Madness 212: We having a flutter, or what? [...] We on or what? |
(b) (orig. US) in favour of, or willing to take part in something, ready to do something, e.g. I’m on, I agree with that.
Roughing It (2007) 143: Pard, he was on it! [...] On the fight, you understand. | ||
Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 6: All right, Governor – we are on! and thank you too. | ||
‘’Arry on Angling’ in Punch 30 July 45/1: The ’ole thing seemed swell with good grubbing and lots o’ prime lotion chucked in. I was ‘on’ like a shot. | ||
Truth (Sydney) 11 Feb. 7/2: But we weren’t fit for bullocking, and said we were not on. | ||
Hooligan Nights 134: I was on for a bit of a game. | ||
Pitcher in Paradise 14: If you’ve nothing better to do I can offer you a little entertainment with the E Division of Police [...] Are you on? | ||
Enemy to Society 343: Your salary would be a hanged sight more than you ever earned. Are you on? | ||
Awfully Big Adventure 79: ‘A Captain is wanted to command a certain unit of the force; are you on for it?’ ‘I’m on for it all right,’ I replied. | ‘Narrative of Commander W.D. Hornby’ in||
Little Caesar (1932) 18: ‘The boy’s on?’ ‘All set.’. | ||
Brain Guy (1937) 137: ‘We’re stepping up to the Bronx. You on?’ ‘Sure I am.’. | ||
Gilt Kid 123: Put me out of my agony. Give me the strength of it. You know I’m on now. | ||
None But the Lonely Heart 171: ‘Just come in and put them in my hand. I can do with them.’ ‘That’s on,’ he says. | ||
Jimmy Brockett 235: I had an idea of making a night of it and Jerry said he was on. | ||
All Night Stand 15: I smiled at her. Yes it was on. Now I ignored her. | ||
Family Arsenal 247: ‘I’m on,’ said Lady Arrow. | ||
Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 252: Bomber’s on! | ||
Filth 143: I bell Bladesey to tell him we’re on. | ||
Shame the Devil 151: We on this weekend, Dimitri? [...] Gonna be a little cold down there on the property, but the weather should be clear. | ||
April Dead 179: ‘Ya dancer! [...] ‘Now we’re on. Fancy a trip to the hospital?’. |
3. positive terms.
(a) (US) fully comprehending or well aware of.
Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 6/1: We were all assembled over our ‘lush’ [...] when the ‘office’ was given that the ‘coppers’ were ‘on’. | ||
Santa Fe Weekly New Mexican 9 July 2/2: He hoped to sell the cavalry a large lot of supplies, but Major Van Horn was ‘on’ [DA]. | ||
Fables in Sl. (1902) 68: The Preacher didn’t know what all This meant, and he didn’t care, but you can rest easy the Pew-Holders were On in a minute. | ||
Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 17: You ’re on dat Duchess is Miss Fannie’s maid. | ||
Bowery Life [ebook] It's a hundred ter one shot dat erbout half uv de stuff he had ter leave behind is goin’ ter buy wine [...] fer a bunch uv stage Tommies. Are yer on? | ||
Doughboy Dope 17: The boys don’t mind him, and he figures that folks on the outside are not on. | ||
Reporter 343: The dope today is that the boys are on. | ||
Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 137: On.–Wise ; experienced ; aware of the facts. | ||
Entrapment (2009) 118: ‘It [i.e. a heroin injection] was into the vein and the first was just into the skin.’ I let him know I was on. | ‘Watch Out for Daddy’ in||
Singing Sands 76: He had been ‘on’ in the affair from first to last [...] As a source of information he was pure horse’s mouth. | ||
Walk on the Wild Side 71: You can stop putting on the weakminded act for me any time now [...] I’m on. | ||
(con. 1967) Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 57: Even when I’m not getting hit, I’m on. |
(b) (later use US black) sophisticated, informed, at an advantage, fashionable.
Maud (1939) 403: He looked so good to my eyes standing there in his dark suit, [...] even the tie I preferred—a small dark one instead of the big flashy things that are ‘on’ now. | ||
Mad mag. Sept. 41: It’s for us, the on-cats, who ought to pick up on those still-wailing blues. | ||
Time 10 Nov. 42: Dylan is the outsider. He’s the most on person in America. | ||
Campus Sl. Spring 4: on – in vogue: That disco is really on. | ||
Portable Promised Land (ms.) 157: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Nuff said. Don’t sleep. It’s on! I’m down. I’m ghost. I’ma jet. |
(c) (US) good, positive [as opposed to off adv.1 (4)].
World (N.Y.) 1 Aug. 10/5: Staley had an ‘on’ day and was very effective. | ||
Body in the Library (1959) 128: I see him in his ‘off’ moments, not only in his ‘on’ ones. |
(d) (Aus.) alert, keeping one’s eye on someone.
Cop This Lot 41: Be on ’im. [...] Dobbin’ us in. | ||
Minder [TV script] 27: I want someone on him every second. | ‘The Last Video Show’ in
4. (US) being the focus of attention, performing, needing to impress [entertainment industry, as if on stage].
Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 15 June 2/3: [T]he uncouth and dlscordant vulgarity of Irving Sayles, who seems to think that he has to be ‘on’ all the time [...] It is moat offensive to all but the coarsest of the audience [...] to have the attention distracted from really pleasant turns they have paid to see. | ||
There Must Be a Pony! 275: Merwin was pretty much ‘on’ all evening. | ||
Lady is a Jock 100: Robyn Smith is both a jockey and an actress, and she always plays both roles simultaneously. She is ‘on’ all the time [HDAS]. | ||
Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 127: When he’s on, his rhymes can stun-gun your heart and militarize your funny bone. | ‘Public Enemy’ in||
N.Y. Times Mag 20 Apr. 55: We are only passively, not actively, wholeheartedly, specializing in our emotional ties. We aren’t ‘on’ [HDAS]. | ||
Not My First Rodeo 18: [A]ctivities that involve being very outward focused, always being ready, being ‘on’. |
5. in love with, having a (sexual) relationship.
Sun. Times (Perth) 4 June 1/1: A Fremantle railway Romeo is on with a brand-new girl. | ||
This Gutter Life 79: She imparted (in the strictest confidence, you know) the knowledge that Gwenda and Johnny were ‘on together’. | ||
Loving (1978) 18: The old man’s on with his Ellen, ’e won’t take notice. | ||
Scholar 263: It’s you I’m on star, not Amanda. | ||
Keisha the Sket (2021) 24: ‘ur bro iz on me hard doe’. | ||
Crongton Knights 205: ‘I didn’t mean to hurt him [...] I didn’t know he was on me like that’. |
6. of a cigarette etc, alight, e.g. with a fag on.
Kitchener’s Mob 62: Never get up for a squint at Fritz with a fag on. | ||
Caught (2001) 106: There’s savoury [...] riding the front of the taxi as number one with a fag on. | ||
Till Death Us Do Part 156: You’ve never seen Her Majesty with a fag on anywhere. |
7. available on a menu [as opposed to off adv.1 (6)].
Capricornia (1939) 506: Tea was always on, and more often than not the gruel. |
8. menstruating [on the rag under rag n.1 ].
Buttons 91: Every eye in the place was centred on some sixteen-year-old virgin who’d come to the party and was ‘on’. | ||
Flame : a Life on the Game 51: I can’t go with you because ... I’m ‘on’. | ||
Trainspotting 35: Shona had said that laddies can tell when you’re on, they can just smell it. | ||
Guardian G2 23 Mar. 7: The matter of who’s ‘on’ and who is not is one of the many things that make girls so mysterious to us. |
9. pregnant.
(con. 1920s) Liza’s England (1996) 54: ‘She’s supposed to be on.’ ‘What do you mean, ‘on’?’ ‘Expecting.’. |
10. sexually excited [SE on heat].
Filth 310: She’s well on, her twat dripping like Niagara Falls. |
11. (US) employed, ‘on the job’.
23rd Precinct 150: ‘We were the second or third group of minorities. There was a lot of resentment from the older whites, the Irish and Italian guys. A lot didn’t want to talk to you or listen to you. They had fifteen, twenty years on’. |
12. (US) enjoying a state of friendship.
Razorblade Tears 236: ‘We back on?’ Buddy Lee asked. |
In phrases
1. (drugs) to give or sell drugs.
Really the Blues 217: Ow, I know I’m gonna get straight now, I know you gonna put me on. | ||
Hall of Mirrors (1987) 230: I’m going out and drink and put somebody on. | ||
Drugs from A to Z (1970) 217: put somebody on Give him some marijuana to smoke. |
2. (US black) to recruit someone into a criminal organization, thus allowing them to start enjoying the financial and social benefits of membership.
Soul Circus 164: I know you remember that it was Phil Wood who asked me to put you on. How it was him who was lookin’ out for you. |