Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. short of money [one is ‘on one’s ribs’].

1937		J. Curtis You’re in the Racket, Too 15: ‘How’s things?’ ‘Right ribby.’.
1937		J. Worby Other Half 223: He asked me if I was ribby [...] and he stood me a tea and a pie and a packet of fags.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 199: Ribby (a) Short of cash.

2. second-rate, poor quality, dirty, run-down [lit. or fig. the ‘ribs are showing’].

1912		S.F. Call 15 Dec. 19/1: [of a dog] Poor ribby little cuss!
1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 33: Hallo, he recollected, here’s Isabella’s. Ribby kind of a gaff, but I might as well go in.
1955		K. Williams Diaries 15 May 113: Rehearsed the Hancock Show at the Camden. It’s a bit ribby this week, primarily because I have very little to do.
1963		B. Naughton Alfie III i: She looked real ribby, so to brighten her up a bit I went a roundabout way to the river, then [...] asked her if she’d like some tea.
1976		(ref. to 1930s) R. Barnes Coronation Cups and Jam Jars 81: Can only give you 1/6d this week [...] it’s looking a bit ribby.
1977		D. Powis Signs of Crime 199: Ribby [...] substandard.

to thrash, to beat up.

1598		Florio Worlde of Wordes n.p.: Stringare, to beate, to bang or ribbaste one.
1611		Florio Queen Anna’s New World of Words n.p.: Rifrustare, to beat, to bang, to swadle, or rib-baste with rod or cudgell.
1659		G. Torriano Dict. n.p.: Rifrústo, a swadling or rib-basting with a rod or cudgel.

1. a blow to the ribs.

1844		Era (London) 21 July 12/2: Murray, determined not to lose time, [...] sent in a rib-bender with his right.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum 128: rib-bender. A forcible hit in the ribs.
1866		H.D. Miles Tom Sayers 23: Martin, whose head was much swollen, again planted a rib-bender, closed, and after a short struggle both were down.
1867		Bell’s Life in Sydney 2 Mar. 5/2: He delivered a rib-bender but received a one-two for his pains.
1869		N.Y. Herald 5 Sept. n.p.: Roche put in some stunners [...] Foley placed in a rough rib-bender.
1876		C. Hindley Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 284: It was some time before he recovered from the ‘rib-bender’ he got from the fat show-woman.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 2 May 14/3: It was not till this point Farnan made any show, and, as Jackson commenced to tire, he accepted the left-handers which were losing their steam, and responded with terrific right-handed rib-winders which soon finished the darkie.
1885		Sun (NY) 16 Feb. 3/4: Reilly let go with the left [...] on Shiny’s mouth. In return he received a rib-bender.
1891		Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette 9 Feb. n.p.: Repaid the compliment with another rib-bender [F&H].
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 66: Rib Bender, a severe blow on the side.
1904		Spokane Press (WA) 14 Dec. 2/3: But what a punmch he has! [...] Hoe will remember those rib benders for a very long time.
1914		Nottingham Eve. Post 17 July 3/4: He came in for one or two rib benders from the American’s right.
1932		Yorks. Post 31 May 17/7: ‘Rib-Benders’ The coloured man scored with some lefts to the body [...] on the side of the ribs.

2. an uproarious joke.

1916

Liverpool Echo 20 Dec. 3/7: Rollicking Randolph: ‘We’ve got some regular rib-benders on tap’.

(US) in commercial sexual contexts [joint n. (3b)].

see separate entries.

a false shirt-front, covering only the ribs and chest, worn over an otherwise dirty garment.

1909

(ref. to 1880) in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era.

1. a warming alcohol-based drink.

1839

Crim.-Con. Gaz. 9 Mar. 81/3: I had a rib sticker of mahogany [...] gin and treacle, I mean.

2. (US Und.) in pl. beans.

1889		Abbeville Press (SC) 27 Feb. 1/5: Baked beans and bean soup are ribstickers and very healthy for old and young.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).

1. in prize-fighting, a blow to the ribs.

1870

Bell’s Life in Sydney 21 May 2/5: Abe delivered a ‘rib tickler.

2. a kick in the ribs.

1914

Truth (Melbourne) 31 Jan. 8/8: He waded into something with a boot — evidently putting in a rib tickler. The ‘something’ turned out to be a man.

1. to lay a bet on credit.

1903

A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 259: Louie [...] got into old Steve’s ribs for fifteen pounds to five before he was properly aware of it.

2. to borrow money.

1934

Wodehouse Right Ho, Jeeves 54: You think the chances of getting into Uncle — my uncle by marriage’s ribs are slight?

short of money.

1937		J. Worby Other Half 244: I’m fed up with being always on the ribs and living on my wits.
1941		V. Davis Phenomena in Crime 255: On the ribs. Without money.
1950		P. Hoskins No Hiding Place! 191/2: On the Ribs. Down and out.
1961		(con. 1920s) J. Sparks Burglar to the Nobility 38: Old lags who are on the ribs touch you for a fifty.

(financially) secure.

1886		Sporting Times 9 Jan. 3/4: [of a racehorse subject to heavy betting] ‘Garry’ Moore is also said to be well ‘ribbed up’.
1899		W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter’s Letters 55: Then when she had you all ribbed up and done to a turn, she said, ‘I love Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Hawkins loves me. Good by, Jim; take care of yourself.’.
1902		Ade Girl Proposition 27: Philo always had his Plan of Campaign ribbed up. He knew what he was going to say when she came breezing into the Front Room.
1932		Truth (Sydney) 7 Feb. 5/3: [He] had been told by the popular mentor to open the purse and pop a decent poultice on to Ptolemy [...] those ribbed up should bet like ‘The Watsons’.

1. to hit, to punch; to beat heavily.

1819		‘One of the Fancy’ Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress 30: And my OWN improv’d method of tickling a rib.
1823		Bell’s Life in London 12 Jan. 6/1: One of their party [...] attempted to tickle his ribs.
1893		Hants. Advertiser 11 Mar. 7/5: he at once proceeded to tickle the bailiff’s ribs, while Mrs Trott attacked [...] with a rolling pin.
1908		Grays & Tilbury Gaz. 18 Apr. 3/5: Personally I have no desire to hit the reverend gentleman below the belt, but I must certainly tickle his ribs.
1913		Lincs. Echo 18 Apr. 2/6: The odds were six to one, but he fought like a tiger [...] ‘Go on, boys, tickle his ribs for him,’ roared a voice.
1949		Dundee Eve. Teleg. 25 Apr. 2/2: He refused to speak. You could smack him, tickle his ribs [...] but not a sound would he make.

2. (US) to stab.

1845		‘Death of Jabez Dollar’ in Martin & Aytoun Bon Gaultier Ballads 74: ‘Look to your ribs, for here is that will tickle them without laughing!’ His knife he raised – with fury crazed.
1880		New Bloomfield Times (PA) 21 Sept. 1/5: This stunned the bear, and enabled the vaqueros to tickle his ribs with a pocket knife until he died.