Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to reveal one’s homosexuality unintentionally.

1970		J.P. Stanley ‘Homosexual Sl.’ in AS XLV:1/2 56: drop beadsv Accidentally reveal one’s homosexuality through a slip of the tongue or other indiscretion.
2012		(con. early 1960s) E. White in N.Y. Rev. Bks 25 Oct. 🌐 I would in effect teach them how to camp—how to reverse genders systematically, how to drop hints one was gay (called ‘dropping beads’).

2. to be shocked.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 29: drop the beads [cookies, load, plate] to be shocked, stunned, surprised.

(US gay) at the mercy of the fates.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 29: in the beads in the cards; left for Fate to determine.

to beat up; to denigrate.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 119: jump on somebody’s beads 1. to cause physical damage; to beat somebody. 2. to belittle somebody.

1. (mainly gay) to complain; to contradict.

1963		J. Rechy City of Night 304: I told you to stop rattling your beads at me!
1970		J.P. Stanley ‘Homosexual Sl.’ in AS XLV:1/2 58: rattle beadsv Complain, express aggravation.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 29: rattle the [giddy] beads 1. to chatter on endlessly 2. to rake somebody over the coals.
2002		Sanders & Lardo McNally’s Folly 212: I hate to rattle your beads but the police will have to release the body first.

2. (US gay) to gossip, to chatter.

1972

see sense 1.

(orig. gay) to chastise, to berate, to attack someone verbally.

1964		Lavender Lex. n.p.: read beads:–To tell off; To scornfully inform.
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 39: read your beads (v.): Tell off someone.
1970		J.P. Stanley ‘Homosexual Sl.’ in AS XLV:1/2 52: Mary! I really read that girl’s beads.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 29: read the beads to chastise somebody; punish by tongue-lashing.
1986–7		Maledicta IX 194: This article and series devoted to sexual slang would be incomplete without some notice of catch phrases, both British and American: […] read (or wrecked) her beads.
1990		S. Morgan Homeboy 371: You’re just in time to be too late, ole Hank read Joe’s beads.
2011		L. George Demon Hunting in Dixie n.p.: She was going to read his beads for whale shit. She opened her mouth to tell him where to stick his condescending attitude.

(US gay) to beat someone up; to shock or startle.

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 29: wreck somebody’s beads 1. to beat somebody up 2. to shock, startle a person.

(US gay) a camp excl.

1961

‘Lou Rand’ Gay Detective (2003) 55: Francis dropped onto a divan [...] ‘My beads, dearie! What a day!’.