Green’s Dictionary of Slang

one n.1

(orig. US)

1. terms pertaining to violence.

(a) a blow with the fist; occas. ext. to two, three, four, etc.

[Ire]D. O’Connell in O’Connell Correspondence (1888) II 168: I owe Brougham one, and I intend, if I can, to pay him .
[Aus]Bell’s Life in Sydney 7 Oct. 3/2: I gave you won with a bit of a switch as I vos a carryin.
[UK]C. Reade It Is Never Too Late to Mend II 283: I kept cool, doubled my right, and put in a heavy one from the armpit.
[US]M.M. Pomeroy Nonsense 41: My waterfall had got under my left ear, making me look as if some ugly man of sin had lifted me one with brass knuckles.
[UK] ‘’Arry on Niggers’ in Punch 15 Mar. 113/2: I should like to ha’ landed him one for his nob.
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Mar. 6/1: One of the larrikins present made use of some abominable language to her. Upon this she ‘went for him’ in most approved style, and landed him one in the eye.
Music Hall & Theatre Rev 24 Aug. 10/1: ‘Don’t you shove my old man, or I’ll give you one on the jore’.
[US]F. Hutcheson Barkeep Stories 180: ‘I land wan dat oughter put a Durham bull t’ sleep’.
[UK]C. Rook Hooligan Nights 109: Wiv that she lands him one.
[US]C. Connors Bowery Life [ebook] ’ I could see she wuz gittin’ fresh. So I t’ought dat maybe I’d hev ter hand her wun just ter keep her in her place.
[Aus]Sun. Times (Perth) 27 Mar. 6/2: The infuriated K.C. [...] ‘went for’ the conductor and gave him one in the gob.
[UK]A. Bennett Card (1974) 156: He caught the mule ‘one’ over the head with his whip.
[US]‘Sing Sing No. 57,700’ My View on Books in N.Y. Times Mag. 30 Apr. 5/6: An old tightwad squire that’ll make you feel like handing him one on the lug.
[Aus]Mirror (Sydney) 31 Aug. 8/3: ‘But he followed me again and began hitting me. I was going to give him one’ .
[UK]‘Sapper’ Bulldog Drummond 156: Clip him one over the jaw, Potts, my boy, but don’t you sign.
[Aus](con. WWI) L. Mann Flesh in Armour 261: ‘I thought of giving him one in the chops’.
[US]H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 88: G’wan Yussie, bust’m one!
[US]J.H. O’Hara Pal Joey Without any warning [he] brings one up from the floor.
[UK]A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 191: I’ll bash it one and be done with it.
[US]B. Appel Tough Guy [ebook] ‘[D]on’t hang around cryin’ or I’ll belt you one for sure’.
[UK]Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 154: I nearly conked her one with my trowel.
[US]R. Abrahams Deep Down In The Jungle 36: If she gives you lip, just smack her one.
[US]L. Heinemann Close Quarters (1987) 152: Drop ’n’ gimme ten eight-count push-ups, trooper, ’fore I gib ya one upside the fucken head.
[UK]P. Barker Blow Your House Down 46: Many a woman’d’ve clocked her one and asked questions afterwards.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett Godson 340: ‘A bloke ought to put one right on your chin’.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett Mud Crab Boogie (2013) [ebook] She’d never copped one on the snoot.
[US]C. Stella Charlie Opera 23: You wanna crack some broad in the mouth because she slapped you one in the face.
[Aus]J.J. DeCeglie Drawing Dead [ebook] I gave him one with everything I had in the gut which doubled his tough as up.

(b) an unpleasant look.

[UK]B. Pain De Omnibus 20: Givin’ ’er a nawsty one.

(c) a bullet, a gunshot.

[UK]P. Marks Plastic Age 27: Shoot one to his kidneys!
[UK](con. 1918) J. Hanley German Prisoner 15: ‘Has that soft runt gone mad? He’ll get one bloody quick himself’.
[US]E. Gilbert Vice Trap 117: ’E’s a-go’n’ to get a nasty one if ’e don’t duck.

2. terms pertaining to communication.

(a) a joke on, an act of teasing; a hoax.

[US]D.P. Thompson Trappers of Umbagog 347: ‘Command? command! Now that it a good one, Fluella,’ returned the laughing foster-father.
[US]H. Green Actors’ Boarding House (1906) 103: ‘Yes, and we’re home. That’s one on you!’ laughed Fat Belly.
[US]F. Packard White Moll 235: De Crab’s handed us one, dat’s wot! But de Crab’ll get his fer —.
[US]J.M. Cain Mildred Pierce (1985) 512: She put that one across all right.

(b) a derog. name, a word of abuse.

[US]C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 210: I spent the time in thinking out new ones to call them.

(c) an anecdote, an amusing story, a joke, e.g. have you heard the one about ?

[US]Lantern (N.O.) 17 Dec. 2: Isn’t this a new one on you, Messrs. Police?
[US]C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 53: Have I ever yet [...] sprung any Sunday-school ones about the good little boy and the bad little boy.
[US]S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 119: Say, jever hear the one about —.
[US]M. Levin Reporter 57: The one about the robber, and the crack about the ass’s milk.
[Ire](con. 1890–1910) ‘Flann O’Brien’ Hard Life (1962) 76: I will tell you a funny one [...] A damn funny one. I will give you a laugh.
[US](con. 1940s) E. Thompson Tattoo (1977) 127: Ever heard the one about the pussyfoot caught in the draft?
[UK]M. Amis London Fields 218: ‘Here. I got one for you.’ Guy tried to concentrate. Keith was about to tell a joke.
[Aus]J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 150: So Uncle Ern stokes up his briar and lets rip the one about Lennie The Loser.
[US]T. Udo Vatican Bloodbath 99: Did you hear the one about the wog, the chink, the wop, the dago, the spic, the spaz, the flid, the mong, the kraut, the frog, the lezzer, the paki and the nigger?

(d) a ‘line’, a persuasive if mendacious story, a lie.

[US]C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 313: I [...] shot one into the manager about being delegated by the City Hall employees.
[UK]‘Sax Rohmer’ Dope 184: ‘The restaurant is closed, sir.’ ‘Tell me a better one,’ rapped Kerry. ‘I want to go upstairs.’.
[US]H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 290: Yeah sure, tell me another one.
[US]R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Sl. [unpub. ms.].

(e) an excuse.

[UK]A. Buckeridge Jennings Goes To School 98: I’ve heard that one before.

3. terms pertaining to the body and sexual intercourse.

(a) the penis.

[UK]‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) VI 1242: Perhaps he ain’t got one to do it with, Polly.
[UK]Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 20–1: No, you are not old enough nor large enough now, but it won’t be long [...] before your pussy will be able to take in one as big as that.
[Ire]Joyce Ulysses 694: No I never in all my life felt anyone had one the size of that to make you feel full up.
[UK]A. Baron Lowlife (2001) 43: I said [...] ‘I fancy you.’ She said, ‘Do you? Come back when you’ve grown one.’.
[Ire]C. Brown Down All the Days 163: A standing one has no conscience, Larry [...] I bet yours is standing out a mile this minute!

(b) any act of bodily eructation; see let one go

(c) an act of sexual intercourse.

[Aus](con. 1940s–60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes ‘Regularity’ in Snatches and Lays 16: Which goes to show the danger real / Of having one before a meal.
[Aus]Lette & Carey Puberty Blues 92: I had a sitting-up one. I liked that, ’cause it made my boobs seem bigger.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett White Shoes 256: I slipped her one.
[Scot]I. Welsh Filth 22: Body still firm, but jist startin tae get that heavier wey that I like. Well worth one.
[Ire]P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 219: This Aussie bird I’ve been throwing one into.
[US]D.R. Pollock ‘Holler’ in Knockemstiff 152: We’d just knocked one off and were lying in bed.
[Aus]T. Spicer Good Girl Stripped Bare 131: ‘I could bend her over and give her one,’ he says, leering at a barmaid.

(d) an act of defecation.

[US]N.B. Harvey Any Old Dollars, Mister? 125: He stopped at one [a cubicle] with ‘Engaged’ on it and knocked on the door. [...] ‘Can’t a plurry fella have one in bloody peace?’.

(e) the vagina.

[Ire]C. Brown Down All the Days 163: They say she’s got a one as wide as Dublin Bay.
[US]E. Thompson Garden of Sand (1981) 549: She got a nice little tight one?

4. terms pertaining to consumption.

(a) a drink (esp. of spirits rather than beer); usu. in the phr. come and have one, join me for a drink; often in comb., e.g. big one, stiff one, etc.

[Scot]Greenock Teleg. 24 July 3/1: Isabella Walker [...] came out of jail yesterday [...] and, having been a tee-totaller [...] because she could not get it, she thought she would take ‘wan’ to do her good .
[US]St Louis Globe-Democrat 19 Jan. n.p.: The party arrange themselves at the bar and are invited [...] to ‘have some whisk,’ or ‘take a smile,’ ‘have one,’ ‘take a ball,’ ‘take a hist,’ ‘take a horn,’ ‘take a noggin,’ ‘get vaccinated,’ all of which mean that one and all shall have a drink.
[UK]F.W. Carew Autobiog. of a Gipsey 362: Just a small one before you go, Baron?
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 9 Aug. 22/4: Jovial Party (who is on a jag): ‘No; you ‘ave one with me.’.
[US]‘Hugh McHugh’ You Can Search Me 106: Make mine a small one.
[Ind]P.C. Wren Dew & Mildew 25: ‘I am going to have a little one and so to bed’.
[Aus]E. Dyson Spats’ Fact’ry (1922) 62: Parsons put his head out of the pub door. ‘Come ’n’ ’ave one,’ he said.
[Aus]Sport (Adelaide) 10 July 3/4: Harry M (better known as Beery) is going off pints and has taken on small ones .
[US]M.E. Smith Adventures of a Boomer Op. 37: ‘Have one on me?’ said he.
[UK]N. Lucas Autobiog. of a Thief 101: The ‘purchaser’ [...] induces that worthy man to join him in a ‘small one.’.
[Aus]L. Lower Here’s Luck 109: ’ ‘Aw, well. We were all young once. Come and have one’.
[US](con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 827: Come on, Pop, have one on us.
[UK]J. Curtis There Ain’t No Justice 56: How about stepping round to the Norland and having one?
[UK]B. Charles 1 Dec. diary in Garfield Our Hidden Lives (2004) 137: I may go out tonight and have ‘one or two’.
[UK]Fads & Fancies 1 16: [pic. caption] Mrs and Miss Utopia ‘having one’ at the Elephant and Castle.
[US]R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 231: When I got home I mixed a stiff one and stood by the open window in the living-room and sipped it.
[NZ]N. Hilliard Maori Girl 174: ‘You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?’ ‘I always am, with one or two in.’.
[Ire]B. Behan Brendan Behan’s Island (1984) 23: My grandmother had me by the hand and as we were walking down the street, we met a friend of hers who said: ‘Come on, Christina, and have one’, meaning come in for a glass of porter.
[UK](con. 1948–52) L. Thomas Virgin Soldiers 84: We’ll have one then [...] then we’ll go down to Singapore.
[US]C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 91: I told her to pour a big one.
[Aus]J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 108: ‘Now come and let me buy you one, you stupid old turd’.
[US]S. Frank Get Shorty [film script] Harry stands behind the wet bar pouring himself a strong one. He looks at himself in the smoke-tinted mirror squares, downs the drink in one and pours himself another.
[US]G. Pelecanos Right As Rain 42: Ray mixed a weak one and walked it over to Edna.
[US](con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 32: Then sit here and buy me one so’s I don’t feel neglected.

(b) (US) an inhalation of cocaine.

[US]Odum & Johnson Negro and His Songs (1964) 193: Comin’ down State Street, comin’ down Main, / Lookin’ for de woman dat use cocaine. / Honey, take a one on me!

(c) a state of drunkenness.

[US](con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 36: Bingo had never known how to address a colored [...] ‘Hey, you,’ if he was pissed off, or ‘Boy’ when he was busting one.
[US]J. Stahl Plainclothes Naked (2002) 93: ‘What’s up with your buddy there?’ ‘Sleepin one off,’ McCardle lied.

(d) a cannabis cigarette.

[UK]Indep. Rev. 28 June 8: They rolled an endless succession of fat ones.

(e) constr. with the, cannabis oil, THC.

[US]L. Young et al. Recreational Drugs.
[US]Abel Marihuana Dict.
[Aus]DRUG-ARM Aus. 🌐 Slang Terms: one Cannabis oil.

(f) a hangover.

[US]G.V. Higgins Rat on Fire (1982) 147: When Alfred slept one off, he slept well.
[US]Mad mag. July 41: Have some class and do it [i.e. commit adultery] while I’m sleeping one off.

(g) a heroin injection.

[Aus]L. Davies Candy 80: To go get some real drugs [...] To come home and get a big one on board.

(h) an adventure, a time, a spree.

[UK]J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 119: I can tell by the look in Mister Mortimer’s eyes that he’s up for a mad one.

5. terms pertaining to individuals.

(a) an eccentric, amusing or outstanding person.

[UK]H. Fludyer Letters 69: My eye, you are a one!
[UK]W. Pett Ridge Minor Dialogues 268: Oh, aren’t you a one!
[Aus]E. Dyson Fact’ry ’Ands 29: ‘Oh, Mr. Ellis, you are a one!’ she said.
[US]B. Fisher Mutt & Jeff 11 July [synd. strip] Yes, doc, hurry up with the wagon. I’ve got one up here.
[UK]‘Bartimeus’ ‘The ‘Look-See’’ in Naval Occasions 118: Ain’t ’e a one!
[UK]J. Curtis You’re in the Racket, Too 206: Blimey, sarge. You ain’t half a one.
[Aus]L. Glassop Lucky Palmer 153: She’s a one, isn’t she?
[UK]C. Harris Three-Ha’Pence to the Angel 78: Old Marie Lloyd’s song. Gord, she was a one.
[US]S. King Cujo (1982) 111: He clapped Joe on the shoulder and laughed. ‘Oh, you’re a one, all right.’.
[UK]M. Manning Get Your Cock Out 73: Good old Billy! He’s a one!

(b) one who stands out in some way, either for impudence, expertise etc, esp. as a one for.

[UK]C.M. Yonge Bye-Words 303: Tittering, and now and then, ‘O Miss Annie, don’t, pray!’ ‘O Miss Annie, you are a one!’ .
[Aus]Eve. News (Sydney) 27 Apr. 7/4: The night before I was ‘pinched’ I noticed that the police all along Kent and Sussex streets were doubled. I ‘tumbled’ at once. They were all standing in the dark corners of the streets. I was ‘one’ for them.
[US]C.M. Flandrau Diary of a Freshman 182: You’re a nice one to preach industry, aren’t you?
[UK]E. Waugh Vile Bodies 187: He’s a one all right – a real artist and no mistake about it.
[NZ]F. Sargeson ‘A Pair of Socks’ in A Man And His Wife (1944) 64: He was a bit of a one for going on the booze, Bill was.
[US]Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn) 12: a one A clever crook.
[US]J.P. Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 186: You’re a fine one. Once you get in here I can’t get you out.
[NZ]G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 209: You are a one. I never could make you out.
[UK](con. c.1918) D. Holman-Hunt My Grandmothers and I (1987) 58: I think old Edward’s a bit of a one, keen on the girls, don’t you?
[UK]M. Amis London Fields 48: In his bachelor days Keith had been a regular romeo. He had been a real ladykiller. In truth, he had been quite a one.

(c) a fool, a dupe.

[US]Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 10 Nov. 6/2: ‘You’re the coolest, brazenest, damned son of a sea cook that ever tried to play me for one’.
[UK]J. Sullivan ‘Healthy Competition’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] There’s always one at every auction, ain’t there Del?

(d) a male homosexual [? old US Army joke, Sergeant, counting off, ‘Are you one?’ Soldier, ‘Yeth, are you one too?’; Trimble labels this as ‘Conv.(entional)’].

[US]Trimble 5000 Adult Sex Words and Phrases.

(e) an unpleasant person, i.e. a cunt n.

[NZ]G. Slatter Pagan Game (1969) 162: If I was one I’d have all your money — Don’t call him that, that’s a useful thing.

(f) a friend.

[UK]N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 118: ’Ere t’xaay meet a coupla me best ones.

6. (UK Und.) a crime.

[US]J. Lait ‘Charlie the Wolf’ in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 65: Then, when he’s got a little age an’ wisdom an’ nerve he turns his first neat one.
[UK]G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 20: Whispers about one you had planned were picked up all too easily as it was, there was no way to odds it, not when you were punting around.
[UK]J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 247: The guy on the trot for the serious armed one is a close personal friend of Morty.

7. (N.Z. prison) constr. with the: someone or something exceptional.

[NZ]D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 130/1: one, the n. 1 a long sentence 2 a person held in awe or high esteem 3 a magnanimous, selfless person, with others' interests at heart.

8. see one on

In phrases

not the one (adj.)

(N.Z. prison) used as the antithesis of sense 7.

[NZ]D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 130/1: one, the not the one 1 (of an object, event or person, esp. an inmate's personality or behaviour) offensive or substandard 2 (of a person) ostracised, unfavoured, despised. 3 untrue.

Pertaining to violence

In phrases

deal someone one (v.) (N.Z.)

to attack someone, to give someone a blow or a beating.

[NZ]H. Beaton Outside In I i: Just look at this mess. Y’want me to deal ya one? She holds up her arm in a backhand, threateningly.
do someone one (v.)

(mid-19C) to pay someone back (for an injury or slight).

[UK]Sportsman 7 Nov. 4/1: Notes on News [...] This precious constable, [...] said on entering the beershop that somebody had ‘done him one, and he (the constable) should do him one.
get one up on (someone) (v.)

(Aus.) to place at a disadvantage.

[Aus]R.G. Barrett Between the Devlin 38: ‘Hah! You’re not doing me out of job, mate. I was pissin’ off anyway.’ Acting like he’d just got one up on Les, the little caretaker continued.
give someone one (v.) (also fetch someone one, give someone a one-er, hand someone one, pass someone one)

1. to hit; thus give him two/three etc.

[US]A. Greene Glance at N.Y. II i: I’d like to give you one! [shaking his fist].
[UK]J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 83: ‘I say, my hearty,’ said she, ‘didn’t I give that old Charlie a one-er, eh?’.
[UK]Thackeray Diary of C. Jeames de la Pluche in Works III (1898) 396: I gave him just one on the noas, which sent him down on the pavemint as if he’d been shot.
[US]‘Ned Buntline’ G’hals of N.Y. 197: If a feller should give yer one under the smellers, yer confidence would be nowhere!
[UK]A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 141: I should give him three or four over his ’ead to let him know who I was.
[UK]J. Walsh [perf. Vesta Tilley] Fairly Knocked the yankees in Chicago 🎵 Said the barman, have a coffin and the people started laughing, / But I gave him one for chaffing then he created quite a row.
[US]E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 37: De next time dat sporty Boston boy tackles me for a scrap I’ll give him one, instead of fetchin him to one.
[UK]A. Binstead More Gal’s Gossip 147: Medicine-man or no medicine-man, what’s the matter with handing him one?
[Aus]Punch (Melbourne) 27 Sept. 4/2: Baldy passed ’im one, as fair a bump’s I ever seen.
[UK]A. Binstead Mop Fair 162: An athletic young stranger [...] gave hubby one on the sub-maxillary gland and two on the bugle.
[US]F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) II xi: He’s de guy dat handed her one when she was young, an’ she’s been layin’ fer him ever since!
[Aus]J.S. Finney 7 Aug. diary 🌐 ‘Good Luck, Digger’ and ‘Give him one for me’.
[UK]T. Norman Penny Showman 51: Come on, then, give me one in the ear!
[Aus]L. Lower Here’s Luck 112: ‘Slam him!’ I shouted to George. ‘Hand him one and then run for it!’ .
[US]N. Algren ‘So Help Me’ in Texas Stories (1995) 19: He run after me and give me one on the side of the head.
[UK]J. Curtis You’re in the Racket, Too 79: If that didn’t work, well, bash, he’d give him one.
[US]N. Algren Neon Wilderness (1986) 43: That’s when he gimme one — right in the teeth.
[US]E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 141: Then he gave Dick two fast ones to the sides of his face.
[UK]T. Lewis Billy Rags [ebook] Copley is on the verge of fetching me one.
[US]J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 35: Give em one for me, Dean! [...] Make em bite their own balls! Then play catch-up with your stick!
[US]E. Leonard Glitz 273: I step out, I give him one. Drop him like a sack of shit.
[UK](con. 1950s–60s) in G. Tremlett Little Legs 1: She would give my father one if he came home pissed.
[UK]Guardian G2 29 Dec. 5: Blind Date hunk gives bar brawler one in the kisser.

2. see also phrs. under Pertaining to the body below.

hang one on (v.)

1. to hit someone, to have a fight; also in fig. use.

[US]K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. xvii: And hauling off wifey hangs one on Alla’s map.
[US]G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 295: You call her a ‘dame’ again, and I’ll hang one on you right from my heel, un’stand?
[US]R. Lardner Treat ’Em Rough 16: The next time them wops trys to slip me something to eat or drink I will hang one on their jaw.
[US](con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 123: You hung one on ‘im? Good!
[US]J.M. Cain Postman Always Rings Twice (1985) 170: Next time I try to act smart, will you hang one on my jaw?
[US]B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 112: Copper hangs one on the guy.
[Aus]D. Niland Gold in the Streets (1966) 111: A shame you didn’t hang one on his detestable puss!
[Aus]A. Buzo Norm and Ahmed (1973) 12: He tried to hang one on me.
[Aus]D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 42: Righto you two molls, I’d say. Stop it or I’ll hang one on you.
[Aus]J. Byrell (con. 1959) Up the Cross 136: ‘I don’t want to have to hang one onyer, sport’.

2. to impose a task or burden.

[US]R. Lardner Treat ’Em Rough 38: They hung a new one on us this P.M. Instead of giving us upseting exercises from a quarter to 4 till a quarter after they made us all run 20 minutes without stopping.

3. (US) to have an affair.

[US]C. Loken Come Monday Morning 203: She was a helluva one to look down her nose at him for goin’ out hangin’ one on.
lay one on someone (v.)

(US) to hit or beat someone.

[US](con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Young Manhood in Studs Lonigan (1936) 225: I didn’t have the heart to lay one on him.
[US]B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 78: The Killer [...] feinted with his left as if he were going to lay one on Toro.
[US]J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 57: The cold made my nose hurt, and right under my upper lip, where old Stradlater’d laid one on me.
[UK]J. Meades Empty Wigs (t/s) 810: [H]e laid one on her... punched her... that’s where the shiner came from.
one for his nob (n.)

a blow or punch to the head.

[UK] ‘’Arry on Niggers’ in Punch 15 Mar. 113/2: I should like to ha’ landed him one for his nob.
[UK]J. Nash [perf. Jolly John Nash] ‘A Frenchman and an Englishman’ 🎵 So the Englishman knocked him head over heels, / And Frenchy got ‘one for his nob, nob, nob’.
pass someone one (v.)

(Aus.) to hit someone.

[Aus]L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 62: I’ll pass you one to go on with, if you don’t. […] I’ll – I’ve a good mind to throttle you, d’you hear?
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 20 Aug. 24/4: [H]e’ll pass Andy wan if he persists wid this publicity ’n’ indecoroum [sic].
[Aus]C.J. Dennis ‘Beef Tea’ in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 86: ’Twus orl becors uv Ginger Mick – the cow! / (I wish’t I ’ad ’im ’ere to deal wiv now! / I’d pass ’im one, I would! ‘E ain’t no man!).
put one on (v.) (also put one in, ...over) [the one is a blow]

1. to surpass.

[Aus]Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA) 27 July 8/6: [US speaker] ‘We won’t altogether admit that [Australian girls] “put one over” Uncle Sam’s daughters’.

2. (orig. Aus.) to hit.

[UK]Wodehouse Psmith Journalist (1993) 247: It’s often like that when a feller puts one in with a bit of weight behind it. [Ibid.] 303: One of de boys [...] lays for him and puts one over him wit a black-jack.
[NZ]McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 89/1: put one on to punch.
[UK]K. Waterhouse Soho 55: Alex wondered why no one ever put one on the cheeky sod. Or maybe they did. On the other hand, he was a beefy bugger.
[NZ]McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].

3. (N.Z.) to confront (without violence).

[NZ]McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.
stick one on (v.) (also stick one into)

to hit.

[US]Van Loan ‘Sporting Doctor’ in Taking the Count 53: Stick one on Bradys chops.
[Ire]Joyce Ulysses 549: Eh, Harry, give him a kick in the knackers. Stick one into Jerry.
[UK]F. Norman Fings II i: So I sticks one on his hooter – makes a bloody mess of him.
[UK]T. Keyes All Night Stand 39: Yer old feller will stick one on me in two seconds.
[UK]‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell Plays Solomon (1976) 146: I was as near to sticking one on him then as made no difference.
[UK]A. Bleasdale Scully 179: I only did it so I could stick one on Rudolph.

Pertaining to communication

go into one (v.) (also off on one)

1. to lose one’s temper, to lose emotional control.

[UK]C. Newland Scholar 131: I call him over, jus’ to chat an’ dat, and Ricky . . . fuck star, Ricky went inta one.
[UK](con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 33: We’re fucked, totally fucked. An’ Smiley’s gonna go into one.

2. to launch into a speech or diatribe.

[UK](con. 1981) A. Wheatle East of Acre Lane 101: After that he really went into one, telling me about St Patrick, Pope Celestine and some bishop.
[Scot]I. Welsh Decent Ride 80: But she ’s oaf on one but. ay. [...] All I ever wanted to do was write, she shouts.
put one over (on) (v.) (also get one over (on), put all over on, put something over on, slip one over, sneak one over on)

(orig. US) to cheat, to deceive.

[US]Ade Fables in Sl. 163: There was one boy who could put it all over the other members.
[US]B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 16: Old Mutt slipped a couple over on the books yesterday, swelling the assets just 407 piasters.
[US]G. Bronson-Howard Enemy to Society 329: And don’t be acting as if you weren’t used to big money, or else the boy will put it all over you.
[US]B. Fisher Mutt & Jeff 29 Feb. [synd. cartoon] We put one over on the railroad alright.
[US]Van Loan ‘One-Thirty-Three – Ringside’ in Taking the Count 70: You might have known that Badger would slip one over on you somehow.
[UK]E.W. Rogers ‘The Bus Conductor’ 🎵 My bus is called the Favourite, and I'm a trifle fly / If you think you'll get one over me, why just you have a try.
[UK]Wodehouse ‘ At Geisenheimer’s’ in Man with Two Left Feet 116: It begins to look as if she had sort of put one over on somebody, don’t it?
[US]S. Lewis Main Street (1921) 281: Wasn’t it true that American aviators put it all over them French-men? [Ibid.] 297: I’ll show this burg something like a real house! We’ll put one over on Sam and Harry! Make folks sit up an’ take notice!
[US]N. Putnam West Broadway 147: ‘They shan’t get him [...] we’ll put one over, that’s what!’.
[UK]Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith (1993) 507: Lemme tell you it’ll take someone better than a half-baked string bean like you to put one over on me.
[US]W.N. Burns One-Way Ride 71: The O’Donnells slipped over on him a few barrells of needle beer instead of the real stuff.
[UK]G. Kersh Night and the City 93: Catch a weasel asleep, then put one over on Phil Nosseross!
[Aus]X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 370: You aint gunner put nuthen over me, boy.
[US]E.S. Gardner Case of the Crooked Candle (1958) 23: You didn’t think you were really going to slip one over on me, did you, Mason?
[UK]S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 50: The sharp young men who come in to sell instruments know that they can put very little over on Barney.
[Aus]D. Niland Big Smoke 162: They don’t put nothing over me, Ocker thought.
[Aus]‘Nino Culotta’ Gone Fishin’ 172: No, matey. Me an’ Den’ve been fishin’ for years. Yer might put that over a mug like Nino. But not us.
[US]‘Iceberg Slim’ Pimp 51: The dummy put one over on Jesus and busted Oscar.
[WI]S. Naipaul Fireflies 118: You was trying to put one over on old Eustace, eh!
[UK]M. Amis London Fields 374: The fast-throwing oriental had what it took to put one over on the South London drayman.
[UK]G. Burn Happy Like Murderers 185: Making a monkey out of. Pulling the wool over. Putting one over on. The chisel. The blag.
[Scot]I. Welsh Filth 208: He thinks that he’s got one over on Bruce Robertson.
[UK]J. Cameron Hell on Hoe Street 227: You put one over on me here mister. I not going to forget that.
throw one (v.)

to lose one’s temper, to have an emotional outburst.

[UK]N. Barlay Curvy Lovebox 110: She’s enough wound up already an’ I know she’d really throw one.

Pertaining to the body

get one on (v.) (US)

1. to become very excited.

[US](con. 1910s) J.T. Farrell Young Lonigan in Studs Lonigan (1936) 7: He’d almost told his sister not to get one on.

2. of a man, to have an erection.

[US]Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 2: get one on – applied to males, to become sexually aroused.
give someone one (v.)

1. to have sexual intercourse, to kiss etc; thus the common male phr. I’d give her one.

[UK]W.S. Gilbert Iolanthe 16: I heard the minx remark, / She’d meet him after dark / Inside St. James’s Park / And give him one!
[UK]Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 150: She gave the sofa another juicy one.
[UK]F. Norman Fings I i: ’Ow’s the missus?... Yeah? Give her one for me will yer.
[UK]L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill (1966) 26: He went on about using your tongue when you kiss women and how you should play with them when you were going to give them one.
[UK]T. Keyes All Night Stand 93: I told them to go off with their birds and give them one for me.
[UK]G.F. Newman You Flash Bastard 43: ‘She’s not bad.’ He considered a picture of Gina who was stroking her undilated self. ‘Give her one, and plead guilty to it.’ The DC chuckled as though sharing some intimate secret with his governor. [Ibid.] 67: Who’s that bird downstairs? [...] Got off on the floor below. In the flat right under this, I think. Got some form, wouldn’t mind giving her one.
[Aus]D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 74: So I say to her, ‘Give him one.’ She makes a fuss but in the end she says to me, ‘Only for you’.
[Aus]B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 21: He never gives his wife one without first asking if she’s awake.
[UK]M. Amis London Fields 54: Give every barmaid in Britain one: no female pubgoer on earth can resist a celebrity darter. [Ibid.] 167: [He] woke up the wife and gave her one. [Ibid.] 385: To ensure that her little Debbee didn’t give Keith one on the house.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett White Shoes 79: KK probably would have given her one; maybe even two.
[UK]Guardian G2 29 July 3: Liza is often referred to as ‘down-to-earth’, a tabloid euphemism for ‘we’d much rather give Gail Porter one’.
[Ire]P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 76: These two rednecks who used to be giving each other one.
[Aus]D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 128: You can hang if ya want. ’Cept when I’m givin’ her one.

2. see also phrs. under Pertaining to violence above.

knock one out (v.)

to masturbate.

[UK]P. Meditzy ‘A Day In The Life Of...’ 29 Apr. 🌐 I was spending the day in the house on my own and had already ‘knocked a few out’ including a couple of ‘arm breakers’ when I decided there was more to life than ‘burping the worm’ all the time.
[UK]J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 169: Sonny thinks I’m just having a perv [...] ‘You gonna knock one out later?’.
let one go (v.) (also let one fly, ...off, ...rip)

to break wind; to burp.

[UK]Merry Mercurie 14 July 7: What how now houswife quoth the Gentlewoman, doe you fart before me? truly forsooth mother answered the maid, I knew not that you had occasion to let one.
[UK] ‘Fryar and Boye’ in Furnivall & Hales Bishop Percy’s Folio Manuscript of Loose and Humorous Songs (1868) 15: With that shee let goe such a blast / that made the people all agast, / itt sounded through the place.
[UK]‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) VI 1181: In trying to check the cough I farted rather loudly. The waiter most likely thought it was she who had let it go.
[US]‘J.M. Hall’ Anecdota Americana I 148: Suddenly the short man let one go. ‘Madam,’ said the tall man, ‘did you hear that little son-of-a-bitch fart?’.
[US]E. De Roo Big Rumble 27: He let one go right in Larry’s face. Larry didn’t bat an eye about it.
[Aus]D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 92: He waits till she’s about to come in his office and he lets one go.
[US]P. Munro Sl. U. 121: Mary was so embarrassed—by accident she let one go in the movie theatre [...] During my psychology midterm, the guy behind me let rip.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett White Shoes 250: Every now and then [...] he [i.e. a dog] lets one go. I swear it would strip the husks from a field of Idaho corn.
[Scot]I. Welsh Filth 19: I’m about to pull up that scummy bastard for letting one go.
[Scot]I. Welsh Glue 58: This cunt here [...] he’s jist fuckin will lit one go.
one off the wrist (n.)

the act of masturbation.

[UK]L. Dunne Goodbye to The Hill [ebook]There wasn’t a picture house. So all they could do was drink or play pitch and toss, or take one off the wrist .
[UK]T. Lewis Plender [ebook] But the next time you got a hard on it was always straight to the toilet for a quick one off the wrist.
[UK](con. 1960s) A. Frewin London Blues 67: Dirty old men giving themselves one off the wrist.
[UK]Coren & Skelton Once More With Feeling (2003) 41: Charlie has no problem watching a sharply manicured lady give herself one off the wrist.
[Ire]P. Howard PS, I Scored the Bridesmaids 29: I don’t want her to think I was knocking one off the wrist.
throw one into (v.)

of a man, to have sexual intercourse.

[US]H. Selby Jr Demon (1979) 54: Thinking about throwing a good one into this Cherry.

Pertaining to consumption

get one in (v.) (also get them, get them in)

to order and pay for a round of drinks, esp. as excl. get them in!

[Scot]I. Welsh Filth 225: I stand up and think about getting them in.
[UK]K. Waterhouse Soho 221: They were in the pub, with Alex getting them in.
hang one on (v.)

to be drunk.

G. Seaton Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe [film script] The assistant stage manager hung one on last night [HDAS].
[US]L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 82: You really hung one on.
[US](con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 396: I must’ve really hung one on. I don’t remember.
[US]R. Conot Rivers of Blood 39: Look at good old so-and-so hanging one on!
[US]Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 4: hang one on – to get very drunk.
have one on the city (v.) [the city-run water supply]

(US) to have a drink of water.

[US]Maines & Grant Wise-crack Dict.
[US]Charleston (WV) Daily Mail 9 Oct. 8/8: This is the fantastic jargon of the soda jerkers: [...] ‘One on the city’ is a request for a glass of water.
[US]I.L. Allen City in Sl. (1995) 72: Few drinking New Yorkers were content to have one on the city, as an old slang expression said of taking a glass of water.
have one or two (v.)

to be drunk.

[UK]‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘A Consistent Consort’ Sporting Times 13 June 1/3: Our landlord knows well, I dare-say, / That Ned won’t pay his rent when he’s had one or two, / And when sober he likewise won’t pay.
high one (n.)

(US) a large drink.

[US]C.L. Cullen Tales of the Ex-Tanks 57: I had the man bring me three high ones, to sort o’ get me around to a deep-water way of thinking.
[US]Eve. World (NY) 5 Dec. 3/3: The Bowery, from where Andy Horn passes out the high ones at five a tureen.
make one (v.)

1. to join in with, e.g. for a drink.

[UK]‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 121: Let’s git up the Wardorf for a taste, celebrate our big deal an’ that. Yer welcome to make one wiv us, Mister Hazell.

2. see also phrs. under General uses below.

one for the bitumen (n.) (also one for the street) [the bitumen, a tarred road, esp. the road from Darwin to Alice Springs]

(Aus.) a last drink, before starting a journey or leaving.

[Aus]Swan Exp. (Midland Jnct, WA) 2 May 4/5: The night was far spent when the secretary said: ‘One for the bitumen, boys.’ And so to bed,.
[Aus]Shepparton Advertiser (Vic.) 26 June 2/6: But the actual journey to respective homes was the real ordeal. What with nightcaps and ‘one for the bitumen’ it proved a 5 a.m. home arrival.
[Aus]R. Aven-Bray Ridgey-Didge Oz Jack Lang 19: Bitumen [...] (One For The) Street.
one for the ditch (n.)

(US) a final drink, but, rather than the trad. one for the road, this var. acknowledges the perils of drunken driving.

[UK]T. Evans ‘Dropping It’ on Leicester Phoenix Motorcycle Club Archive 🌐 I remember one trip back from the Dunton Bassett Arms down the A426 Blaby by pass after the customary ‘one for the ditch’ last half when Howard Wykes had difficulty negotiating one of the traffic islands and opted for the straightest route straight over it.
one for the road (n.) (also off-setter) [virtually SE by 1950]

1. a final drink before departure; ext. to a measure of drugs, i.e. cocaine.

[SA]B. Mitford Fire Trumpet II 34: ‘Awfully sorry, old man, but I must get back to-night.’ ‘Hang it! Well, then, have another drink—just an “off-setter”,’ persisted the other.
[UK]‘William Juniper’ True Drunkard’s Delight.
[UK]Sun. Dispatch (London) 3 July n.p.: Publand...first round is known as ‘one’, second as ‘the other half’, third as ‘same again’, fourth as ‘a final’, fifth as ‘one for the road’, sixth as ‘a binder’, and seventh as ‘swing o’ the door’ [DSUE].
[UK](con. 1928) R. Westerby Mad in Pursuit 110: Like to come along to the flat and have one for the road?
[US]Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 48: Well, one for the road, and we’re off.
[UK]H.E. Bates When the Green Woods Laugh (1985) 263: One for the road? [...] Come on, one more for the road.
[UK]F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 85: One for the road?
[UK]A. Payne ‘You Need Hands’ in Minder [TV script] 21: Come on, Terry, one for the road.
[UK]C. McPherson Weir 65: Jack, you’ll have a small one, for the road.
[UK]K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 40: I’m wishing I’d thought to say ‘one for the road’ instead of ‘time for one more’.

2. in fig. use.

R. Daley Only a Game 170: ‘There you go, Duke, boy’ Stitch. ‘And another, Duke, boy’ Stitch. [...] ‘And one for the road, Duke, boy’ Stitch.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett You Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids (1989) 70: [of sexual intercourse] Come on darling [...] one for the road.
[Aus]M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read How to Shoot Friends 46: Bobby always liked to finish a fight with one for the road — a running jump with both feet ending up on the head.
stop one (v.)

1. (Aus.) to have a drink.

[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Sept. 29/1: An’ the cook an’ groom, d’ye see? / Said they’d stop one, too, with me. / And the ladies – bless their little hearts! – indulged in something soft. / Soft – something soft – an’ they sipped their wine an’ coughed, / An’ I slung ‘em each a fiver as the whisky went aloft.
[Aus]Aussie (France) 9 Dec. 19/2: The big Melbourne Show is in sight, and it’s going to be a ‘Dry’ Show. That means that the visitors can’t ask each other, ‘Can you stop one?’ or ‘Can you keep one down?’ or ‘What about it?’ or ‘Let’s kill a dog.’.
[Aus]G.H. Lawson Dict. of Aus. Words And Terms 🌐 STOP ONE—To take a drink.
[UK]M. Forrest Hibiscus Heart 92: Their owners were inside the bar ‘stopping one’.
[Aus]K.S. Prichard Coonardoo 279: ‘Hi, Dick,’ he called, ‘could you stop one?’.
[Aus]A. Russell Gone Nomad 78: ‘I suppose yer could stop one?’ I could. I needed that rum.
[Aus]A.L. Haskell Waltzing Matilda 38: ‘Stop one?’ ‘Nmineeiffido.’.

2. see also phrs. under General uses below.

General uses

make one (v.) [‘one’ is either an escape, a plan, a drink or a murder]

1. (UK prison) to plan and effect an escape.

[UK]G.F. Newman A Prisoner’s Tale 148: I want to make one as bad as you do, Bri.

2. (UK Und.) to put together plans for a crime, esp. a robbery, and then carry out that crime.

[UK]G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 27: Names were being ticked off the shortlist [...] A couple of them had said straight out that they didn’t fancy making one, without even hearing what it was.

3. to commit a murder.

[UK]J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 126: Call it manslaughter or murder, making one or serving ’um up, offing or topping, in ain’t gonna do your reputation any harm.

4. see also phrs. under Pertaining to consumption above.

put one in (v.) [the one is a bullet]

(US) to shoot (dead).

[US]H. Gould Fort Apache, The Bronx 332: You did it bro [...] You put one right in that motherfucker.
[US]C. Cook Robbers (2001) 143: That’s when he raised up behind a prickly bush and put one in me.
put one together (v.)

(UK Und.) to plan a crime.

[UK]G.F. Newman Villain’s Tale 51: You think I don’t know you after all this time? Don’t know how you behave? You’re putting one together all right, I can tell.
stop one (v.)

1. see stop one under stop v.

2. (Aus.) to receive a blow.

[Aus]Sun. Times (Perth) 20 Mar. 2nd sect. 10/6: The next English ‘captain’ who attempts to play the game on the Terrace odds-yellers is likely to ‘stop one’ at the beginning of the piece.

3. see also phrs. under Pertaining to consumption above.

SE in slang uses

In compounds

one-a-man (n.) [one of these dumplings will satisfy a man’s appetite]

(W.I.) a large, round dumpling, using a pound of flour.

[WI]cited in Cassidy & LePage Dict. Jam. Eng. (1980).
one-fifty-one (n.) (also 151) [ety. unknown; ? Calif. or NY penal code number]

1. (drugs) crack cocaine.

[US]ONDCP Street Terms 1: 151 — Crack Cocaine [Ibid.] 16: One-fifty-one — Crack; crack sprinkled on tobacco.

2. (also one-five-o) heroin.

[US]T.R. Houser Central Sl. 309: one-five-o Heroin.
one-off (n.)

(US) an act of (casual) sexual intercourse (with a stranger).

[US]R. Campbell In La-La Land We Trust (1999) 132: Having a one off in some hot pillow joint along the boulevard where fifty bucks bought the works.
[US]R. Cea No Lights, No Sirens 120: I knew this was not going to be a one-off, hit it, and move on.
one-two-seven (n.) [fig. use of horse-racing term]

(US) somethat is is equal to, on a par with.

[US]F. Hutcheson Barkeep Stories 19: ‘Talk about yer continyous teeayters — dey ain’t one-two-seven wid de snaps dat come off in dis joint!’.

In phrases

do one (v.)

to leave, to run away; often as imper. meaning go away!

[UK]G. De S. Wentworth-James Man Market 240: No! You have-er-what you call ‘done one on me’ when you go away from that other room.
[UK]K. Sampson Awaydays 66: ‘Come ’ead!’ I gasp, grabbing Elvis and pulling him with me. ‘Let’s do one!’ [Ibid.] 114: Do one, you weird bollix!
[UK]Guardian 23 Jan. 6: There’s a better than even chance they will gratefully accept this speedy answer to their problem and do one lively.
[Scot]T. Black Gutted 17: A jakey was sleeping in the doorway [...] I lifted his collar, told him, ‘Do one’.
[UK]K. Sampson Killing Pool 184: Neither of them laughs, I slot a grand and do one.
B. May Twitter 22 June 🌐 If you think my children are taking part in this pathetic Kim Jong-un tribute act, you can absolutely do one. #idiocracy #BrexitBritain.
go up one (v.) [school use, whereby the successful pupil goes up a place or class]

to be praised, to be applauded.

[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 19 Nov. 14/4: At the critical moment, however, the village wizard operated on Maclaren for caterpillar on the brain, and sorcery ‘went up one.’.
[UK]J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 143/2: Go up one (Peoples’). Applause. Derived from the school class – the scholar going one nearer the top as be goes up one.
make someone one (v.) [the image of the woman and the embryo being ‘two’ people]

(US) to give someone an abortion.

[US]‘Iceberg Slim’ Pimp 262: She got pregnant. I found a croaker who made her one again.
one for the book (n.) [the record book]

(US) anything noteworthy, remarkable or incredible, something worthy of long-term record.

[US]T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 61: Remember that fight with Phil. Jack O’Brien? Wasn’t that one for the book!
[US]J.T. Farrell Gas-House McGinty 348: Christ, him ridin’ Reiss is one for the books.
[US]J. Weidman I Can Get It For You Wholesale 27: That was one for the books. Tootsie Maltz told me!
[UK]F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 85: ‘Now that really is one for the book,’ I enthused.
one in ten (n.) [the tithes paid by his parishioners]

a parson.

[UK]B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: One in ten a Parson.
[UK]New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
[UK]Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
[UK]Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
[UK]Lex. Balatronicum.
[UK]Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
[UK] ‘A Chaunt by Slapped-up Kate and Dubber Daff’ in Swell!!! or, Slap-Up Chaunter 47: Her tomb-stones are white as the one-in-ten wipe.
[UK]Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open.
[UK]Duncombe New and Improved Flash Dict.
[UK]Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn).
[UK]Sl. Dict.
one in the dark (n.) [opposite of one in the light ]

(US) a cup of black coffee.

[US]St Louis (MO) Globe-Democrat 31 Aug. 10/1: There [i.e. Omaha] a cup of coffee is ‘one on the black’ and tea ‘one on the light brown,’ and if milk is not wanted the waiter adds ‘play it open.’.
[US]O. Wister Virginian 150: ‘Coffee an’ no milk,’ said the Virginian. ‘Draw one in the dark!’ the colonel roared.
[US]Maines & Grant Wise-crack Dict. 7/2: Draw one in the dark – Draw a cup of black coffee.
[US]O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 12 May [synd. col.] On the Bowery ‘One in the dark’ is coffee without cream.
one of ’em (n.)

(US) a remarkable or admirable person.

[US]Whip & Satirist of NY & Brooklyn (NY) 12 Mar. n.p.: Miss A— boasts that she can dance ‘Possum up a gum tree’ with a pitcher of milk on her head; she’s ‘one of ’em’.
[US]N.Y. Clipper 14 May 2/5: The Clipper is one of ’em. [...] The Clipper takes ’em all down.
[US]B.H. Hall College Words (rev. edn) 407: seed [...] this word is used to designate what is understood by the common cant terms ‘a youth,’; ‘case,’; ‘bird’; ‘b’hoy’; ‘one of ’em’.
[Aus]Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Apr. 20/1: There will be a great run upon old maids if the statistics recently published of the usefulness of these ladies is correct. Elizabeth Queen of England was an old maid, and, some say, a woman to be greatly admired. Miss Edgeworth was an old maid. […] Joanna Bailie, poetess and playwriter, was ‘one of ’em.’.
one on someone’s tibby (n.) [? on one’s tibby drop under tibby drop n.]

1. (UK Und.) aware of someone's activity.

[US]Merry Fellow’s Companion 28: ‘[S]eeing as how he was a rum kid, I was one upon his tibby’.
[UK]‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 70: ‘I was up to his slang and down upon his tibi,’ means a knowledge of the kids’ talk, and of his locomotions, or what he would be after, what was to be the effect thereof.
[UK]J. Miller Complete Jest Book 262: He was a rum kid. I was one upon his tibby.

2. (Uk und.) in lit. or fig. debt to.

[UK]G. Kent Modern Flash Dict. 33: Tibby, One on your – I owe you one.
[UK]Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open [as cit. 1835].
one over the eight (also one over the nine, two over the eight) [the eight being pints, a supposed ‘safe’ amount of beer]

(orig. UK milit.) drunk.

[UK](con. WWI) Fraser & Gibbons Soldier and Sailor Words 88: Eight, One Over The: One drink too many. Slightly intoxicated.
[UK]W. Watson Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2000) 127: ‘Well,’ said Miss LaFosse cheerfully, ‘you have had one over the eight.’.
[UK]G.D.H. & M. Cole Counter-point Murder 12: Two over the eight last night, if you ask me.
[Aus]A. Gurney Bluey & Curley 28 Apr. [synd. cartoon strip] I ain’t feelin’ too good this mornin’ sir. I had one over the eight last nght!!
[UK]J. Braine Room at the Top (1959) 191: Roy, a quiet type normally, seemed to become, as Charles said, all Id when he’d had one over the eight.
[Aus]F.J. Hardy Yarns of Billy Borker 80: Oi took one over the noine and woke up with a mother and a father of a hangover.
[UK]H.E. Bates A Little of What You Fancy (1985) 522: Hair of the dog was Pop’s favourite remedy when you’d had one or two over the eight.
[UK]N. Barlay Crumple Zone 212: Look dears, I may be one over —.
one-percenter (n.) [the supposed 1% of motorcycle users who refuse to abide by legal and societal rules]

(orig. US) an outlaw bike rider.

[US]H.S. Thompson Hell’s Angels (1967) 14: We’re the one percenters, man – the one percent that don’t fit and don’t care.
[US]S. Kernochan Dry Hustle 188: [This] partner of mine cut one of the Angel’s heads almost off, he was a Satan one-percenter.
[Aus]M.B. ‘Chopper’ Read How to Shoot Friends 97: When the Outlaws say they are ‘one percenters’ it means there is a 99 per cent chance they will spill their guts in a police station.
[US]‘Randy Everhard’ Tattoo of a Naked Lady 80: The Sons [of Satan] were one-percenters – motorcycle outlaws, the worst.
[US]S.A. Crosby Razorblade Tears 111: ‘They one-percenters. Got chapters all up and down the East Coast’.