switch v.1
1. to have sexual intercourse (with); thus switching n., having sexual intercourse [SE switch, to whip].
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Burlesque Homer (3rd edn) 297: If paris had not got enough / Of trimming her bewitching buff, / But longs to switch the gipsey still. | |
| Burlesque Homer (4th edn) I 160: For God’s sake let a brave man switch her. | |
| Signor Lippo 58: Well, my old pot switched with the cook, my old donah, and then she had to slope the kitchen and go to his carsey over the stables, where I was born a twelvemonth arterwards. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | blues song in Folk-Say 337: Lemme be yo’ switch engine, baby, till de main line comes. / I kin do mo’ switchin’, momma, than yo’ main line ever done. | |
| (con. 1945) Gather Together In My Name 162: I’ll be back switching and bitching and getting merry like Christmas. |
2. (UK black) to lose one’s temper.
| Dirty South 6: Every kid did this [i.e. swap insults] to test how far could you go, how much you could tolerate before switching. | |
| Crongton Knights 9: Dad wanted to give Mum’s clothes to charity when she passed, but Nesta switched big-time when he heard that. | |
| What They Was 32: The older switched at him like are you mad! |
In phrases
SE in slang uses
In phrases
1. (UK black teen) to turn against, to become angry with.
| BBC News ‘Report on Teenage Slang’ 11 Mar. [radio] She switched on her man the other day [...] She got mad with him the other day. | |
 | theculturetrip.com ‘Guide to London Slang 10 Jan. 🌐 Switch– to turn on someone instantly with maximum shade. |
2. (US drugs) to become intoxicated by drugs.
| Manchester Guardian Weekly 9 May 6: Rumours that you could switch on with the help of the white fibre from the inside of a banana skin. |
3. (US, also switch up on) to excite, to arouse sexually.
| Esquire July 44–45: switched-on—[...] agitated as ‘that switches me on’. | |
| Life and Times of Little Richard 151: Any given time a girl can choose you or you choose her and they’ll switch up on you. |
4. (US) to participate in the latest cultural trends.
| Oz 7 25: [advert] Switch on to Penthouse this month and devour Michael Thomas’s 5,000-word celebration of hippiedom. |
to fail, to malfunction.
| Ladies’ Man (1985) 34: The only thing that never switched up on me was my dick. |
In exclamations
an excl. of irritation, surprise, denial.
| US Mag I 427: I’ll be switched if I do [DA]. | |
| Preston Chron. 1 Aug. 6/6: I drank and in less than an hour I’ll be switched if I had 25 cents left out of two dollars. | |
| John Brent 196: I’ll be switched round creation ef you do. | |
| Yale Yarns 181: Well, I’ll be switched! | |
| Hants. Teleg. 7 Jan. 12/7: American Yarns [...] Ef bear is as plenty round these parts as that, I’ll be switched ef Iwant any! | |
| ‘Wal, I Swan!’ in Botkin Sidewalks of America (1954) 560: Wal, I’ll be switched! the hay ain’t pitched. | |
| ‘Word-List From Western New York’ in DN III:vi 443: I’ll be switched, interj. | |
| Main Street (1921) 306: Be switched if sometimes I don’t feel tempted to shine up to some girl. | |
| Roman Hat Mystery 83: ‘Well, I’ll be switched!’ he said softly. | |
![[Can]](/static/img/flags/can.png "Canada") | Windsor Star (Ontario) 11 Feb. 6/2: Hephzibah: I’ll be switched. | |
| Purlie Victorious in Black Drama II i: Well, I’ll be switched! |
1. (Aus.) give (it) up!
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Coburg Leader (Vic.) 27 July 1/5: Who is the telegraph boy that is after the boot-makers donah? Switch off, Ed, it's no go. |
2. shut up! be quiet!
| ‘Susie Gannon’s Young Man’ in Benno and Some of the Push 113: Ave a bit iv manners if y’ are fact’ry rats. [...] Switch off. | |
| Le Slang. |