five n.2
1. (US) a blow with the fist.
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Naked on Roller Skates 112: You want five hard? | |
| Air War – Vietnam 163: Nobody, but nobody!, badmouths the Jolly Greens – unless he wants to get five propelled [...] in his teeth. | |
| Zap Comix 6 n.p.: Taste five in the fangs, Pappy! | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Bug (Aus.) 25 Aug. 🌐 If you’re wondering why I’m swearing so much at the good referee, I’m hoping he’ll get his knickers in a knot and give me the big ten. I’ll be more than happy to give him five straight back! |
2. (US black) the five fingers, thus the hand.
| Tucker’s People (1944) 26: He held up his fist and pointed to it with one finger. ‘What are you going to do about this five after you get your fi’ bucks?’. | |
| Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 60: He lamped her [...] and then mugged behind five to his Jasper boy. |
In phrases
(orig. US) to slap hands in order to seal a bargain or to greet a friend; occas. ext. as give ten, to slap both hands; give five on the sly, to slap hands behind one’s back so as not to alert onlookers; give five on the black-hand side/the soul side, to slap hands on the back (darker) side or the palm side of the hand; thus excl. give me five!
| Susan Lenox I 395: I’ll give you five, said the drunken man. ‘Come along.’ He grabbed her arm, waved his other hand at Etta. | |
| ‘Observation Post’ in N.Y. Age 11 Oct. 9/5: Stick out your paw and give me five. Give me a little skin. | |
| Book of Negro Folklore 527: Standin’ on the corner / All full of jive, / When you meet old schoolboy / Ask him to give you five / Hit that jive, Jack! | |
| Ghetto Sketches 90: The Afro-Lords snicker, give each other fives all around, half drunk on cheap wine. | |
| Straight Outta Compton 17: Not giving us five. Not giving the drummer some. | |
| Pimp’s Rap 76: I felt his cold icy hands as we gave each other five. | |
 | ‘Three-Large’ in ThugLit Oct. [ebook] ‘Sal the Beak [...] Gimme five’. |
(US campus) to help.
| Da Bomb 🌐 15: I got five on it: I’ll help you. I’ll meet you half way. |
to piece together, solve.
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | To Love and Be Wise 92: ‘Who is Liz Garrowby?’ ‘Walter Whitmore’s fiancée.’ ‘He was? Well!’ ‘But don’t go making five of it until we get some evidence’. |
(US) to indulge in a mutual hand-slapping ritual used by blacks (and some whites) for greeting, emphasis, congratulation etc; occas. as slap someone five; occas. as imper.
| in Psychotic Reactions (1988) 145: I looked over at the band [...] and J. Geils cued me right back – brother! slap me five! | |
| Last Toke 96: They slapped palms, one up, one down, then repeated the jive with the opposite hand. | |
| (con. 1969–70) F.N.G. (1988) 122: Eltee Williams and Prophet slap a few fives. | |
| Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 49: We burst into cheers and slapped five with each other. | |
| (con. 1986) Sweet Forever 40: He five-slapped Mary’s palm as he passed her in the aisle. | |
| Them (2008) 33: Tyrone tilted slightly to one side and slapped him five. | |
| Corruption Officer [ebk] cap. 19: I slap them five and keep it moving. |
(US) to slap hands in greeting or for emphasis or congratulation; usu. in imper. excl.
| ‘Prison Dict.’ in AS VIII:3 (1933) 31/2: SLIP ME FIVE! Shake hands! as in Ware yuh, buddy? Slip me five! | |
| Wise-crack Dict. 13/2: Slip us five – Request for a handshake. | |
| Hepster’s Dict. 5: Hand me five – Shake hands. | |
![[Ire]](/static/img/flags/ire.png "Ireland") | Hair 43: He put out his hand and said: ‘Lay me five, man, I’m free like a cockroach.’. |
In exclamations
(orig. US black) imper., let’s slap hands to seal the deal or bargain!
| in Sport USA (1961) 202: ‘Put it there, doc,’ said the infant. ‘Give me five. I congratulate you, doggone it.’. | |
| (con. 1920s–30s) Youngblood (1956) 104: ‘Gimme five then,’ Gus said, holding out his fat hand. | |
| Simply Heavenly I iii: Gimme five, Miss Mamie, gimme five! | |
| Through Beatnik Eyeballs 37: This leader stud come forward. ‘Give me five,’ he say and extend his hand. | |
| Look 14 Nov. 114: With ‘Gimme five’ and ‘Way to go!’ he incessantly congratulates and cheers teammates and friends [HDAS]. | |
| Requiem for a Dream (1987) 16: Gahd damn, give me five. Harry slapped the palms of Tyrone’s hands and Tyrone slapped Harrys. | |
| Runnin’ Down Some Lines 27: Gimme five on d’ soul side. Lay some skin on me, baby! [Slaps palms with another black.]. [Ibid.] 240: give me five (on the sly) [...] signal for the slapping of palms-usually between two black men-as a way of greeting or congratulating each other. | |
| Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 13: Wayne danced a little, offered Barry his upturned palms. ‘Give me five, then. C’mon, trade me some skin.’. | |
| Portable Promised Land (ms.) 157: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Gimme five. Shook ones. |