bean n.2
1. a person, esp. as a term of affectionate address; usu. as old bean
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Adventures of Mr Ledbury I 261: ‘Well, my beans, – here we is,’ said Spriggy. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Prairie Logbooks (1983) 26 May 187: Feller beans, that thar trail leads through a howlin’ wilderness. | |
| Medical Student 91: Halloa, Muff! how are you, my bean. | |
| Bulldog Drummond 211: Oh you daisy [...] you pair of priceless beans. | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | (con. WWI) Gloss. of Sl. [...] in the A.I.F. 1921–1924 (rev. t/s) n.p.: bean. A mode of address, as ‘Hello, old Bean’. | |
| Young Men in Spats 9: It was the hour of the morning snifter, and a little group of Eggs and Beans and Crumpets had assembled in the smoking-room of the Drones Club to do a bit of inhaling. |
2. (US) a foolish or unpleasant person.
| ‘Terms Of Disparagement’ in DN IV:iii 198: bean, term of disparagement. ‘I want that darn bean of a M--- to stop calling me “honey”.’. | |
| ‘Score Another One for Barnum’ in Argosy All-Story 11 Sept. 🌐 Remember the time some bean tried to sell you Broadway for next to nothing; hey? | |
| Soldier Bill 40: If a bean like this fellow went to heaven, Bill was satisfied to go to the other place. |
3. (US black) a black person.
 | ‘Arkansas’ 🎵 Little wife said, ‘Honey, I’m done with beans, I’m goona pass for green’ [i.e. white]. |
4. any person.
| IV Dress Gray (1979) 247: Every squad leader had his good guys, his averages, and his fuck-ups. In any squad, it would be three or four good beans, three or four take ’em or leave ’em beans, and a couple of dead-ahead fuck-ups. [Ibid.] 248: The squad fuck-ups, a pair of dufus beans. |
In compounds
(US Und.) a high-class confidence man.
| Sl. Dict. (1890) 8: Bean-Traps. Stylish sharpers; high-toned confidence men. | |
| (ref. to 1890s) ‘Gloss. of Larrikin Terms’ in Larrikins 202: bean traps: stylish confidence men. |
In phrases
1. a fellow, a term of address, usu. to a man.
| ‘The Only Way’ in Airman’s Song Book (1945) 3: Oh, poor old bean, Archie got him clean. | |
| Indiscretions of Archie Ch. iii: ‘Honestly, old bean – I mean, dear old thing, – I mean, darling,’ said Archie, ‘I can’t believe it!’. | |
| Enter the Saint 114: As soon as Whiskers has rumbled that joke, you, old haricot [...] will beetle in and arrest the lot of us. | |
| Inside Dope 96: Well, old bean! Haven’t seen you since the Cannes Conference! | |
| in Limerick (1953) 111: She pulled down her knickers, / And also the vicar’s, / And said, ‘How about it, old bean?’. | |
| letter n.d. in Charters II (1999) 124: Well, old bean, Gary is back. | |
| Ghetto Sketches 155: Thank you, old bean . . . better luck next time. | |
| Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976) 106: Been fishing much this year, C.J. old bean? | |
| Godson 62: ‘I’ll tell you what, old bean’. | |
![[WI]](/static/img/flags/wi.png "West Indies") | Eldorado West One 72: Don’t be so avaricious old bean. | |
| Dennis the Menace Annual 29: Thank you, old bean! | |
| (con. 1940s) One Bright Child 139: No, old bean, old sport, old son. | |
| Grits 67: Oh dear, I rather think Wales should be granted autonomy, old bean. | |
| Man-Eating Typewriter 79: ‘Is this what they’re wearing in the East End these days, old bean?’. |
2. an old person, seen affectionately or kindly.
| Bad Girl 67: You’d be surprised what these old beans of ours will stand. | |
| Body in the Library (1959) 138: An eccentric old bean, this. |