1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 222: cop a sneak — To take advantage of someone.at cop a sneak (v.) under cop a..., v.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 218: AH-AH – self important; attention-demanding; e.g. ‘Tony’s broad is an ah-ah dame.’.at ah-ah, adj.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 233: on the bend—Crooked; racketeering; criminal.at on the bend (adj.) under bend, n.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 224: dummy—Detective; officer of the law. Other terms—‘Big Eyes,’ ‘Elephant Ears,’ ‘Round Heels.’.at big eyes, n.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 219: big rod—The head of a ‘mob.’.at big rod (n.) under big, adj.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 219: big cough—Bomb containing a heavy charge of explosive.at big cough (n.) under big, adj.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 220: bindle stiff—Smuggler of narcotics.at bindle stiff (n.) under bindle, n.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 220: blow off—exposure, detection, discovery.at blow off, n.2
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 220: blow the works—To leave hastily; to escape.at blow the joint (v.) under blow, v.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 220: boiler shop — Office for sale of fake securities.at boiler-room (n.) under boiler, n.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 220: build up—The ballyhoo or stage setting which precedes an event, or the committing of a crime, or racket.at build-up, n.
1929 Hotstetter & Beesley It’s a Racket 219: Butterfly—A worthless cheque; a check that is being ‘kited.’.at butterfly, n.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 221: buzz—To interview; also in the sinister meaning of visiting and intimidating someone, especially with the ultimate purpose of extorting money, as ‘to put the buzz on.’.at buzz, v.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 221: buzz—To interview; also in the sinister meaning of visiting and intimidating someone, especially with the ultimate purpose of extorting money, as ‘to put the buzz on.’.at put the buzz on (v.) under buzz, n.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 221: c — One hundred dollars; hundred dollar banknote [...] ½ a C — Fifty dollars; fifty dollar banknote.at C, n.2
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 221: can maker — One who manufactures bombs, especially nitroglycerine, black powder, or stench bombs.at can, n.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 221: canary — Informer; especially, one who gives information to the police.at canary, n.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 221: case up — To look over the situation very carefully.at case, v.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 222: check out — Leave hastily; also, die a natural death.at check out, v.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 226: ghive [sic] — A knife; a dagger; or stiletto.at chiv, n.1
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 222: circus—To harry a victim; e.g. ‘Give him the circus’.at circus, n.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 222: clam—To keep absolutely quiet; to refuse to talk.at clam (up), v.
1929 Hostetter & Beesley It’s a Racket! 222: clunk—Stupid; slow-witted; foolish. Also, a fool.at clunk, n.