Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a spontaneous and brief act of sexual intercourse.

1934		J.H. O’Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) 219: It was possible, wasn’t it? that Lute’s mother had had a quick one with an Irishman or a Scotsman.
1955		J.P. Donleavy Ginger Man (1958) 12: Come in drunk, have a quick one and whoops, another mouth to feed.
1966		T. Keyes All Night Stand 71: It’s all right for a quick one with these scrubbers.
1995		J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 37: ‘Fancy a quick one Tina?’ I went. ‘And a drink first?’.
2000		Guardian Editor 7 Jan. 14: Don’t dress like a tart – he might offer you £20 for a quick one.

2. a quick drink, usu. of alcohol.

1905		Sporting Times 25 Feb. 1/5: One goes out quite mechanically to take ‘just a quick one’ for one’s own old-standing malady.
1921		D.L. Sayers Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1977) 89: What about a quick one?
1930		E. Waugh Vile Bodies 185: A profusion of men in plus-fours were having ‘quick ones’ before the start.
1933		C.G. Booth ‘Stag Party’ in Penzler Pulp Fiction (2006) 96: Rance was drinking some [...] mebbe I had a coupla quick ones.
1946		D. Stivens Courtship of Uncle Henry 75: On the way back I nicked into a pub for a quick one.
1947		G. Fairlie Bulldog Drummond Stands Fast 54: I make straight for the bar [...] and have a quick one.
1954		Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 7: I [...] drained a quick one.
1953		‘John Eagle’ Hoodlums (2021) 66: [H]e would short-circuit into the Loop for a quick one.
1957		‘Weldon Hill’ Onionhead (1958) 146: A couple of fast ones wouldn’t hurt him. So he went to the Oval Bar.
1963		‘Nino Culotta’ Gone Fishin’ 197: While you’re doing your shopping, we’ll duck into the pub for a quick one.
1979		F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 28: We can all nip over the pub for a quick one.
1983		J. Sullivan ‘Homesick’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] Yeah, I’ll have a quick one with you.
1986		C. Bowles G’DAY 76: They go down the rubbedy for a quick one to drown their sorrows.
1996		P. Temple Bad Debts (2012) [ebook] Thought you might come in for a quick one.
1997		C. McPherson Weir 15 : We went for a quick one in the Pot.
2002		S. Maloney Something Fishy (2006) 72: I waved the bottle [...] ‘Fancy a quick one before you go?’.

3. an act of urination.

1959

A. Sinclair Breaking of Bumbo (1961) 118: Out on an exercise [...] wanted to have a quick one.

4. a brief act of masturbation.

1949

H. Miller Sexus (1969) 364: I got in bed again and tore off a quick one.

5. a trick, a deception.

1956

J. Thompson ‘The Cellini Chalice’ in Fireworks (1988) 85: Fifteen hundred is a good price [...] I’m giving you twenty-five. You call that pouring a quick one?