Green’s Dictionary of Slang

razzle n.

1. a spree, a good time; thus v. razzle, to go out on a spree.

1889		Eve. World (NY) 1 Mar. 1/1: It is like a razoo. People get the razoo or razzle-dazzle when they have been having a good time.
1899		Armidale Exp. (NSW) 6 Jan. 6/1: Wood came to Australia some years ago with about £100,000 which he razzled away in less than three years.
1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Dec. 14/3: Next day you would find him reclining in the shade, and at the offer of a pewter he would sadly turn his head away. In a few days, however, he’d be ready for another razzle; and in the end he died of an old-man drunk.
1907		Truth (Wellington) 6 Apr. 6: Quite a heap of people have been on the razzle in Christchurch.
1909		‘O. Henry’ Roads of Destiny 368: I’m feeling just like having one more rip-roaring razoo with you for the sake of old times.
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 3 Apr. 2nd sect. 9/1: They Say [...] That a South Perth man has been half cured of midnight razzling.
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 29 May 2nd sect. 9/1: They Say [...] That a private fancy-dress razzle at godly Guildford was more than brisk. That some of the costumes were too brief for the time of year.
1916		‘A-No. 1’ Snare of the Road 40: I only finished my latest razzle with the Road when I accepted this job.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 271: He’s on for a razzle backache spree.
1924		S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 226: Done in, dearie [...] Too much razzle.
1926		Wood & Goddard Dict. Amer. Sl. 43: razzle-dazzle. Giddy confusion or bewilderment; razz.
1933		J. Spenser Limey 159: She ‘made’ an old farmer that’d come all the way from Iowa for a ‘bend’ (razzle).
1935		Aus. Women’s Wkly 9 Feb. 13/2: Lil and Dickie were giving what they called a razzle that Sunday evening.
1944		C. Fluck ‘Bubbles’ of the Old Kent Road 28: He did not look too good. I asked if he had been on the razzle.
1999		Observer Mag. 18 July 9: I expect to be out on the razz with my old friend Constance at an exclusive party.
2023		R. Milward Man-Eating Typewriter 188: W1 was all razzle, fruit and pricktease.

2. (Aus.) a problem, a contretemps.

1908

Bulletin (Sydney) 30 July 14/2: ‘Enny’ow,’ continued Ponto, ‘Shinner King’s lug gittin’ t’ ’ear ’iv th’ razzle, done a mook t’ th’ John ’ouse, ’n’ ’ooked me tart inter th’ starlight.’.

3. (US) noise.

1960

C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 3: The razzle of jazz music from the record shop on the corner.

In derivatives

razzler (n.)

(Aus.) one who is out on a spree.

1910

Sun. Times (Perth) 22 May 2nd sect. 12/8: Outside [...] hangs (or hung) a gigantic tennis racquet. Like the little peach, it swung temptingly aloft [...] A razzler spotted it. What ho ! Likewise ha, ha!! And down it came!!!

In compounds

razzle mag (n.) [note actual mag. title Razzle (1973–)]

a pornographic magazine.

1999

I. Rankin Dead Souls 95: The Customs officer had decanted the contents of his bag [...] change of clothes, a couple of razzle mags.

In phrases