Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a flagrant attempt to deceive, to swindle, to persuade.

1823

‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 76: A Fetch, a heave, and a lifter would be synonimous [sic], if they stood without context. Finesse being used to obtain any man’s secrets, is a fetch; if much labour is employed, resembling a heaving at the capstan, ’tis a heave; but a single effort, by which the person operated upon is brought to think highly of self, is a lifter.