Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US prison/Und.) to serve a jail sentence.

1967

M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 25: I toleem I couldn’t build no kidnap time less’n they promised me I could live forever.

(US Und.) time off for good behaviour in prison.

1992

Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 25: Copper Time In many prisons there is a form of copper time which is time off for good behavior.

see under dance v.

see under dead adj.

(US prison/Und.) to serve a prison sentence without becoming involved in any of the prison gangs, illicit business etc.

1992		Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 25: Do Your Own Time Mind your own business and do not get involved in all the ‘cons’ or ‘games’ that are constantly being played.
1999		E. Bunker Mr Blue 161: I did, however, think about his admonishment to do my own time. [...] It meant what it said: mind your own business, worry about your own crime, your own time, your own punishment.
2002		J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 173: Do your own time . . . or someone will make you do theirs. — old head saying.

1. to serve a prison sentence.

1871		Times Dec. n.p.: Both... fled to New York to save doing time on the treadmill [F&H].
1872		E. Crapsey Nether Side of NY 88: [H]e is entitled to the rare distinction of having ‘done time,’ by which phrase the detectives who love to speak in riddles do not mean that he has swindled Time, but that he has served a term in Sing Sing prison.
1873		in Sl. Dict. 323: Time, to do to work out a sentence of imprisonment.
1887		J.W. Horsley Jottings from Jail 186: The offender is released, not when he has ‘done’ so much time, but when he has proved himself fit for liberty.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 5: Like a lot of the Government men [...] he saved some money as soon as he had done his time.
1889		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 14 Dec. 2/1: He is now doing time in Jefferson City, Mo.
1895		Riverina Recorder (Moulamein, NSW) 13 Nov. 4/4: He pitched a few cuffers, / And ‘had’ a few duffers, / But now he is doing his time.
1899		C. Rook Hooligan Nights 121: You have been lagged, sent to the stir, and done time.
1900		Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 247: I ain’t done such a hell of a lot o’ time compared with some blokes.
1901		W.A. Sun. Times (Perth) 15 Sept. 1/1: Having ‘done time’ is now a first class recommendation for applicants after a Government billet [...] a job in an important department provides a notorious pickpocket with an excuse for being at large.
1903		A. Binstead Pitcher in Paradise 114: The man [...] on his left subsequently did ‘time’ for running a house of ill-name.
1904		Marvel 12 Nov. 13: ’e’s a wrong ‘un. Done time, ’e ’as.
1912		Day Book (Chicago) 6 May 21/2: ‘If your father doesn’t work, what does he do?’ ‘Time mostly, mum. He got six months ag’in yesterday’.
1913		H. Lawson ‘His Unconquerable Soul’ in Roderick (1972) 811: He was said to have ‘done time’.
1917		A. Conan Doyle His Last Bow in Baring-Gould (1968) II 797: Well, so was Jack James an American citizen, but he’s doin’ time in Portland all the same.
1917		F. Packard Adventures of Jimmie Dale (1918) II x: She was credited with being a sworn enemy of the police, and [...] with having done ‘time’ herself.
1926		J. Black You Can’t Win (2000) 92: You start doing time the minute the handcuffs are on your wrists.
1929		W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 13: I ain’t doing no time for fifty bucks.
1936		R. Chandler ‘Goldfish’ in Red Wind (1946) 184: ‘Listen,’ he said, still softly. ‘I did my time.’.
1949		W.R. Burnett Asphalt Jungle in Four Novels (1984) 134: I did my time [...] I didn’t get a minute off.
1949		N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 228: All I done was a little stealin’ [...] Now I done my time for that.
1953		‘William Lee’ Junkie (1966) 37: If a man’s going to do time, he might as well start doing it.
1964		H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn (1966) 16: I did time with them guys.
1973		D. Goines Street Players 159: What good is a bitch to me doing time?
1984		B. Ellem Doing Time 95: You tend to be a bit suspicious of the people you’re doing time with.
1985		N. Pileggi Wiseguy (2001) 66: Her husband was away doing time.
1992		V. Headley Yardie 77: Only a fool would do time over a woman.
2007		D. McDonald Luck in the Greater West (2008) 107: Me and dad have fuckin’ done time, and you’re fuckin’ cops.
2010		L. Berney Gutshot Straight [ebook] ‘Beats the food in stir?’ He smiled. ‘You ever do time?’.
2020		S.A. Crosby Blacktop Wasteland 65: He had taken the whole fall. Reggie wasn’t built for doing time.
2021		C. Hammer Opal Country 30: He did time in prison.

2. in ext. use, irrespective of the institution.

1912		Ade Knocking the Neighbors 159: All those who had Done Time at a certain endowed Institution for shaping and polishing Highbrows had to close in once a Year for a Banquet.
1923		Kipling ‘The Janeites’ in Debits and Credits (1926) 158: The dairyman’s son ’ad done time on Jordan with camels.
1929		S. Ornitz Haunch Paunch and Jowl 257: I’m doin’ time with a hang-over myself ... but it’s a beaut.
1954		N.Y. Herald Trib. 28 Feb. 46/3: ‘Doing time’ is used for staying after school and the ‘chain gang’ refers to walking to class in groups.
1956		‘James Updyke’ [W.R. Burnett] It’s Always Four O’Clock 9: [H]e never talked about the Army. He’d done his time in Germany with the Seventh, and like me, he just wanted to forget all about it.
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 26: This bloke’s a flamin’ ratbag! He ought to be doing time in a giggle factory!!

(US Black) the human heart.

1940

Pittsburgh Courier (PA) 27 Apr. 7/6: You should realise that the raisers have larceny in their time-jumpers from the start.

(US Und.) an uneventful time in prison.

1933		Ersine Und. and Prison Sl.
1953		T. Runyon In For Life 169: I was doing comparatively easy time.
1995		C. Hiaasen Stormy Weather 275: Snapper pleaded out [...] and got easy time.

(UK black) for a while, for a time.

2005

Jade LB Keisha the Sket (2021) 19: He was 1 peng boi I had been chatin 2 4 tym.

(US Und./prison) a life sentence.

1949

Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).

see separate entry.

see separate entry.

to enjoy onself, to go out on a spree.

1935		D. Lamson We Who Are About to Die 185: We landed there with three hundred dollars apiece [...] So we had ourselves a time for a couple of days.
1940		R. Chandler Farewell, My Lovely (1949) 208: Could a guy with reasonable dough have himself a time there?
1941		J. Archibald ‘Alibi Bye’ in Popular Detective June 🌐 Willie Klump, all dressed up in a new blue serge suit, had himself a time.
1946		(con. 1910s) J. Thompson Heed the Thunder (1994) 144: Havin’ yourself a time there, skipper?
1963		(con. 1944) L. Glassop Rats in New Guinea 34: Their buddy was obviously having himself a time.
1974		C. Loken Come Monday Morning 19: I figgered you was out havin’ yourself a time.
1978		S. Longstreet Straw Boss (1979) 256: Mike took a roll of bills out of a pocket. ‘Here, have yourself a time. You earned it.’.

(orig. US Und.) don’t take an action if you cannot deal with the concomitant responsibilities.

1967		M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 11: They told me if I couldn’t do the time, I shouldn’t mess with crime.
1973		E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 107: Graffitti carved into the paint (‘If you can’t do time, don’t fuck with crime.’).
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 42: If you can’t take the time, don’t do the crime.
1992		R. Price Clockers 114: If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.
2002		(con. 1998–2000) J. Lerner You Got Nothing Coming 154: Be a fucking man! You did the crime, now do the time!

(US Und.) a short prison sentence.

1950

Goldin et al. DAUL 125/2: Light time. 1. A brief prison sentence.

1. (US) to make a fuss [? SE difficult/hard time].

1888		Boston Journal 31 July 2/5: She doesn’t weep at the parting or make any time over it [DA].
1901		North Amer. Rev. Feb. 228: No other troops made such a time about water as the Americans [DA].

2. to enjoy oneself, to celebrate.

1913

J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 42: The night’s young. Let’s make a time of it – Pabst’s Cafe first, and then some.

1. to make advances, to court, to flirt.

1935		Z.N. Hurston Mules and Men (1995) 109: Brer’ Rabbit saw he wasn’t makin’ no time wid Miss Saphronie.
1942		W. Winchell ‘On Broadway’ 23 Jan. [synd. col.] He’s one of those cab-Casanova — makes more time than a driver does.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1955		‘Hal Ellson’ Rock 26: It don’t look like you made any time with her.
1963		G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 183: Alex Conrad’s swacked, but makes time with some bouncy starlet.
1971		E. Bullins ‘Dandy’ in King Black Short Story Anthol. (1972) 82: Are ya makin’ much time with mah little sister?
1993		(con. 1969) N.L. Russell Suicide Charlie 46: He was toking on a cigar-sized joint and making time with the boom-boom girls.
2002		J. Ridley Conversation with the Mann 84: She wasn’t getting what she deserved from a guy who wanted to make time with her.
2008		T. Dorsey Atomic Lobster 132: Serge [...] making time with another library science grad.
2018		(con. 1963) L. Berney November Road 10: She shook off a mope who tried to make time with her.

2. to associate with.

1959

W. Brown Teen-Age Mafia 15: She was surprised that Connie could even make time with a bunch of punks like the Dags.

(US black) accurate, ‘on the nose’ .

1947		S.C. Adams Jr. interviewee q. in Adams Ms in Gordon & Nemerov Lost Delta Found (2005) 242: Songs they sing in church now feel like fire burning. What do I mean? Well you know how fire burns; all fast and jumpy, and leapy like. Well that's just the way these swing church songs are now. Yes sir, most churches now call themselves getting on time or something the other.
2012		W.D. Myers Cruisers: A Star is Born 39: Bobbi was definitely on time thinking kids shouldn’t get messed around because they didn’t have a lot of money, but I knew how things rolled in the real world.

1. (US prison) to be sentenced to or to serve a term of imprisonment.

1933		C. Himes ‘Prison Mass’ in Coll. Stories 163: This jolt was getting him, he confessed to himself. It hadn’t seemed this hard pulling time before.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 166/2: Pull time. To serve a prison sentence.
1967		M. Braly On the Yard (2002) 43: I’ve talked to men who have pulled time all over the country.
1983		R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Sl. [unpub. ms.].

2. (US) to spend time in a place.

1986

L. Heinemann Paco’s Story (1987) 23: Everybody’s pulled time at Harriette, you understand.

(US Und.) a short prison sentence.

1926		Maines & Grant Wise-crack Dict. 14/1: Sleeping Time – One year in jail.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 60/2: Do sleeping time. (P) To serve a very short sentence.
1967		P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 246: ‘Don’t this time bother you?’ ‘Man,’ I said, grandstanding, ‘sleeping time, just sleeping time. On my head.’.

(US prison/Und.) intellectually depleted after a long jail sentence.

1973

E. Bunker No Beast So Fierce 141: At first I thought he was dull — ‘time-drunk’ — but soon I realized it was the quiet stoicism of eighteen years behind bars.

(US Und.) a short sentence.

1992		Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 24: Wino Time A short sentence.
2000		(con. 1940s–60s) Décharné Straight from the Fridge Dad.

imper., mind your own business!

1971–2

C. Shafer ‘Catheads [...] and Cho-Cho Sticks’ in Abernethy Bounty of Texas (1990) 203: ‘Do your own time!’ v. – ‘Mind your own business!’.

a thief who specializes in snatching expensive watches.

1999

Indep. 23 July 4: The so-called ‘time bandits’ tend to work more in the summer when people are wearing short-sleeved clothes.

very quickly.

1997

Share Slanguage.

of a man, to have sexual intercourse.

1951

J.D. Salinger Catcher in the Rye (1958) 47: ‘What’d you do?’ I said. ‘Give her the time in Ed Bandky’s goddam car?’.

to make someone unhappy, to punish, to reprimand; to cause problems for.

1917		Chillicothe Constitution (MO) 26 June 2/2: They threaten to give the government a hot time ejecting them.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 443: I’ll make it hot for you. I’ll make you dance jack Latten for that.
1936		(con. 1830s–60s) ‘Miles Franklin’ All That Swagger 118: If I catch him meddling with my beasts, I’ll make it hot for him.

in a non-sexual sense, a joc. phr. delivered to one who asks ‘Have you got the time?’.

1950		Frizzell & Beck ‘If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)’ 🎵 We'll make all the night spots, dance, drink beer and wine / If you've got the money, honey, I've got the time .
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 538: [...] since at least as early as 1920s.

to be well aware of what is going on.

1826		‘Nocturnal Sports’ in Universal Songster II 180/1: No use sending nabs arter me [...] the vatch knows what’s o’ clock.
1829		Vidocq Memoirs (trans. W. McGinn) III 54: The cove knows the time o’day, the lush (wine), meat, and salad.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open 127: Time o’ day, quite right, the thing.
1855		Bell’s Life in Sydney 8 Dec. 3/1: A non wide-awake personage named John Murphy who was evidently not well up to ‘the time o’ day’ in Sydney, .
1892		H. Lawson ‘The Grog-an’-Grumble Steeplechase’ in Roderick (1967–9) I 216: But he said he had the knowledge to come in when it was raining, / And irrelevantly mentioned that he knew the time of day.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 54: ‘[T]o know what’s o’clock,’ to be wide awake, sharp, experienced.
1896		‘’Arry on Blues and Bluestockings’ in Punch 21 Mar. 135/2: Does she think that a ’Varsity Don is a similar species of fowl, / As big and as bleared in the goggles, as blind to the true time o’ day?
1955		D. Niland Shiralee 51: Some drunk who was so stewed he didn’t know what day it was.
1975		‘P.B. Yuill’ Hazell and the Three-card Trick (1977) 61: They were a couple of smart lads who knew the time of day.

to be aware, to know what is going on; often in neg.

1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc. 19: He who knows ‘which way the Bull ran’ [...] may be considered as ‘one who knows what o’clock it is.’.
1835		Dickens ‘A Passage in the Life of Mr. Watkins Tottle’ in Slater Dickens’ Journalism I (1994) 429: Our governor’s wide awake, he is, I’ll never say nothin’ agin him, nor no man; but he knows what’s o’clock, he does, uncommon.
1847		[A. Harris] (con. 1820s) Settlers & Convicts 321: The man that was driving the Bathurst herd was a regular muff (booby), and never dropped down what o'clock it was (did not detect the scheme).
1849		Thackeray Pendennis I 94: I’m not clever, p’raps; but I am rather downy; and partial friends say I know what’s o’clock tolerably well.
1857		‘Dear Bill, This Stone-Jug’ in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 153: But soon in his eye nothing green would remain, / He knows what’s o’clock when he comes out again.
1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 70: ‘To know what o’clock it is,’ to be wide awake, sharp and experienced.
1866		J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 135: You a green hand! You tell that to fellers as don’t know what’s o’clock.
1874		J. Greenwood Wilds of London (1881) 139: An earnestness [...] calculated to impress the two young ladies that though young they are lads of mettle and knowing cards, [...] possessing a knowledge of the time of day to a fraction of a tick.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 207: As for old Mullockson, he used to take a drive to Sawpit Gully or ten-Mile as soon as ever he saw what o’clock it was.
1935		Indiana Eve. Gazette 20 Mar. 9/2: A well-informed individual is said to ‘know the right time.’.
1938		D. Runyon ‘It Comes Up Mud’ in Runyon on Broadway (1954) 545: Mr. Paul D. Veere knows what time it is when it comes to riding.
1952		W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 154: You damn idiot — when Leon was here she didn’t know the time of day. Now she runs the joint.
1987		Boogie Down Prods ‘South Bronx’ 🎵 Due the the fact that no one else out there knew what time it was, we have to tell you a little story.
1994		N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 239: They didn’t know who they were or what time it was.
2000		P. Beatty Tuff 40: After I read this, you’ll know what time it is.
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] No wonder that woman on the bike didn’t feel the cold. She wouldn’t know what day it was.
2009		J. Stahl Pain Killers 37: The worst kind of civilian - the kind who thought he knew what time it was.
2013		Fabulous ‘Sicker Than Yo Average’ 🎵 You know what time it is, girl, you can see my Rolly.
2020		S.A. Crosby Blacktop Wasteland 105: ‘You didn’t have to tell me that. I already know what time it is’.
2020		G. Krauze What They Was 118: Hold them tight enough so they know what time it is.

(W.I. Rasta) see you later.

2004

‘Patois Dict.’ www.dancehallareaz.com 🌐.

1. (US black) fashionable, chic.

1941

‘Digg Mee’ ‘Observation Post’ in N.Y. Age 26 Apr. 9/7: My attire [is] really on time, found in Vogue...From head to feet, it’s solid neat.

2. (US black) at the emotionally or psychologically apposite moment (rather than the chronologically prompt one); of good quality; thus get on time, to have fun.

1947		M.H. Boulware Jive and Sl. n.p.: Getting on time ... Having fun.
1971		H.E. Roberts Third Ear n.p.: on time adj. quite appropriate.
1994		P. Blauner Casino Moon 159: ‘I’m dancing with this girl and she’s beautiful, you know. The ass was like right on time and she had the kind of titties you see in them magazines’.
1999		Eble Campus Sl. Nov. 8: on time – good: ‘That CD I bought last week is on time.’.
2007		B. Coleman Check the Technique 223: ‘[W]e started talking about how we was raised and what the neighborhood was all about. They were right on time with the stuff I was saying, stuff that the other guys before them just couldn’t feel’.

3. attrib. use of sense 1.

1990

J. Wambaugh Golden Orange (1991) 115: She can’t afford an on-time guy like me.

to spend time, to occupy one’s time.

1958

R. Prather Scrambled Yeggs 34: This is the first really big thing I’ve had a chance at – putting my own time in on it.

(orig. US black) to explain, to ‘put someone in the picture’, to ‘teach someone a lesson’.

1985		T.R. Houser Central Sl. 52: tell him what time it is A request to someone to corroborate, for a third party, what one has said.
1990		N. George ‘Women of Color’ in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 143: My mom and sis told me what time it was vis-à-vis white girls.
1992		J. Mowry Way Past Cool 20: Ain’t gonna catch me cryin when the Crew come down an show you what time it is!
1999		‘The Master Pimp’ Pimp’s Rap 65: I’m glad you set your alarm clock and woke up Kid. Now I’m gonna tell you what time it is.

to make one’s personality clear.

1895

Mirror of Life 27 July 14/2: And with an ecaf green as grass / He told the time of day.

1. the current situation, what is going on; thus put one up to the time of day, to explain the situation to one.

1667		Poole Dialogue between a Popish Priest, and an English Protestant (1839) 113: No, Friend, it is not that time of Day; you cannot now deceive us with such foolish excuses.
c.1820		‘World Turn’d Upside Down’ in Holloway & Black I (1975) 283: For we don’t lend our money to fools, / No, no, that’s not the time of day.
1834		Bell’s Wkly Messenger 11 Dec. 398/1: He got lagged and scragged — that’s time of day with the best ’uns — a rope for their cravat, and cotton in their ears.
1841		‘Bon Gaultier’ ‘My Mother’ in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 131: Who took me from my infant play [...] And put me up to the time of day?
1849		Thackeray Pendennis I 93: Partial friends say I know what’s o’clock tolerably well. Can I tell you the time of day in any way?
1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn) 237: TIME O’DAY [...] the latest aspect of affairs [...] to put a person up to the time o’ day, let him know what is o’ clock.
1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. [as cit. 1860].

2. a trick, a ruse, the practice of theft.

1829		‘Pickpocket’s Chaunt’ (trans. of ‘En roulant de vergne en vergne’ in Vidocq 1829) IV 259: As from ken to ken I was going, [...] Who should I meet but a jolly blowen, Who was fly to the time o’ day.
1834		(con. 1737–9) W.H. Ainsworth Rookwood (1857) 178: The knucks in quod [fn: Thieves in prison] did my schoolmen play, And put me up to the time of day; Until at last there was none so knowing.
1841		‘Nix My Dolly’ Dublin Comic Songster 3: The huncks [sic] in quod did my schoolmen play, / And put me up to the time o’ day.
1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn).
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.

3. the correct or pertinent thing or situation.

1836–7

Dickens Pickwick Papers (1999) 528: Lend him a hand, Mr Vinkle, Sir. Steady, Sir, steady; that’s the time o’ day.

1. solitary confinement.

1999

D. Looser ‘Boob Jargon’ in NZEJ 13 36: time out n. Solitary confinement.

2. time serving a sentence, i.e. time ‘out of one’s life’.

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 189/2: time out n. 1 a period of time spent in prison.

(US) a question, often deriving from one’s incomprehension or surprise, ‘what on earth’, ‘what in the world’ etc.

1849		R.W. Griswold Correspondence (1898) 250: Why in Time don’t you come our way and see the boys?
1898		N. Brooks Boys of Fairport 201: What’n time are you fellers up to? [DA].
1922		H.L. Wilson Merton of Movies 5: Merton Gill, what in the sacred name of Time are you meanin’ to do with that dummy?