1911 Railway Carmen’s Journal XVI 380/2: The short of it is that the game of law is a sure-thing game — like the bucket shop business.at sure-thing, adj.
1913 Railway Carmen’s Journal XVIII 428: An apple-knocker came to town In answer to an ad. Although he knew a strike was on This jay-bird’s heart was glad.at apple-knocker, n.
1913 Railway Carmen’s Journal 18 157/1: Another brainless wonder told me and another boomer if we were not satisfied we should leave as we did not belong.at brainless wonder (n.) under brain, n.1