poor man’s..., adj. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

poor man’s... adj.

used in combs. denoting the second-rate, a substitute.

In compounds

poor man’s alcohol (n.)

(US black) cough syrup.

2000

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 poor man’s alcohol Definition: used by many street bums known as Cough Syrup. Example: I ran into Gabriel in the ghetto the other day. He was sit in the trunk of his Impala sippin’ on that Po’ man’s. Man he was fucked.

poor man’s blessing (n.) [sex being ostensibly free of charge]

the vagina.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.

poor man’s cocaine (n.) [one enjoys similar effects for less expenditure]

1. isobutyl nitrite.

1982

cited in Spears Sl. and Jargon of Drugs and Drink (1986).

2. (drugs) methamphetamine.

1999

‘Drugs: an overview’ on BBC News 14 Sept. 🌐 New drugs are always emerging on the UK scene. One of the latest is shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as ‘poor man’s cocaine’ and ‘Ice’.

poor man’s diggings (n.)

(Aus.) alluvial gold deposits, which can be mined far more easily than reef-gold that requires capital to develop; and fig. uses.

1875		Chicago Trib. 14 Oct. 7/3: If it did pay, it would be what is called poor man’s diggings, for it was no place where capital could be successfully employed [DA].
1876		R.I. Dodge Black Hills 109: It has passed into a proverb that ‘placer’ mining is the poor man’s diggings, while ‘quartz’ mining is only for the rich [DA].
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl. 56: Poor man’s diggings, alluvial gold deposits, i.e., gold which a poor man can work, contrasting with reef-gold which requires capital to develop.

poor man’s goose (n.)

baked liver, usu. pig’s or bullock’s, with sage and onions.

1908		Belper News 26 June 2/3: Poor Man’s Goose. Half a pound of scraps of pork [etc].
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 199/1: Poor man’s goose (Low. Classes). Bullock’s liver, baked with sage and onions and a bit of fat bacon.
1914		Northampton Mercury 20 Nov. 3/7: Poor Man’s Goose — Take half a pound of liver, one onion [etc].
1935		Lancs. Eve. Post 23 Oct. 8/3: Poor Man’s Goose. Required: 3lb of pig’s liver [etc].

poor man’s oyster (n.)

a mussel.

1891

Tit-Bits 8 Aug. 277, 2: There are thousands of costers who earn a livelihood by the sale of... mussels, which are regarded as the poor man’s oyster [F&H].

poor man’s piano (n.) [the wind-inducing, ‘musical’ effect it has on one’s stomach]

(Can.) a meal of dried beans.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 909/2: [...] Can. s., in use at the time of the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway if not earlier.

poor man’s sugar (n.) [play on brown sugar n.² (2)/SE brown sugar, i.e. seen as ‘poorer’ than white sugar]

(US black) heroin.

2000

Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 poor man’s sugar Definition: heroin. Example: Shit, G, hook me up wit da poor man’s sugar.

poor man’s treacle (n.) [not sweet, but flavoursome]

1. garlic.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 909/2: C.17.

2. onions.

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.