Green’s Dictionary of Slang

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Real Life in London choose

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[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 83: There was a most excellent mill at Moulsey Hurst on Thursday last, between the Gas-light man, who appears to be a game chicken, and a prime hammerer — he can give and take with any man — and Oliver — Gas beat him hollow, it was all Lombard-street to a china orange.
at Lombard Street to a china orange, phr.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 45: Your once-a-week man, or Sunday promenader, is one who confines himself, to avoid confinement, lodging in remote quarters in the vicinity of the metropolis, within a mile or two of the Bridges, Oxford Street, or Hyde-Park Corner, and is constrained to waste six uncomfortable and useless days in the week, in order to secure the enjoyment of the seventh, when he fearlessly ventures forth.
at once-a-week man, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 137: [He] grabb’d his pocket-handkerchief, and was after shewing a leg,† when a little boy that kept his oglers upon ’em, let me into the secret, and let the cat out of the bag by bawling—Stop thief! [†Shewing a leg—or, as it is sometimes called, giving leg bail—making the best use of legs to escape detection].
at show a leg, v.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 333: A rump and a dozen is always a nominal thing. There was no rump [...] and as for the dozen, I believe we drank nearer three dozen of different expensive wines.
at rump and a dozen, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 606: Somebody must make a mull* — but Randall’s the man — he is the favourite of the day, all the world to a penny roll. [* Mull — Defeat, loss, or disappointment].
at all the world to a china orange, phr.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 377: Persons who know no more of law than what they have learned in Abbot’s Park*, or on board the Fleet* [*Abbot’s Park—The King’s Bench; *On Board the Fleet—The Fleet Prison]. [Ibid.] 550: They can uninterruptedly make up their minds whether to give bail, put in appearance and defend the suit, or take a trip to Abbott’s Priory.
at Abbott’s Priory, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 551: It is impossible to say of him, as of his sirloin of a wife (for she cannot be called a rib, or at all events a spare rib) that there is any thing like cut and come again.
at cut and come again, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 82: Having a desire to sink the shank, he enlisted under the banners of Cupid, paid his addresses to one of the Queen’s maids, carried the fortress by a coup de main, and gained a safe lodgement in the covert way, by taking the oath of allegiance at the altar of Hymen.
at altar of hymen, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 123: Blood an owns, boderation and blarney (said an Irishman).
at blood and ’ounds!, excl.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 97: ‘No more of that, or we cut: touch my honour, and you touch my life.’ ‘Dot and go on,’ cried Dashall.
at dot and go one!, excl.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 596: Tallyho was reminded by his Cousin to button up his toggery, keep his ogles in action, and be awake.
at awake, adj.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 91: A ball of fire, ? a dose of daffy, or a blow out of black strap, will set the blue devils at defiance, give a spur to harmony, and set the spirits a jogging. [? A ball of fire—A glass of brandy].
at ball of fire (n.) under ball, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 451: In one corner lay a Sailor fast asleep, having taken so much ballast on board as to prevent the possibility of any longer attending to the log.
at ballast, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London 412: They were by this time all well primedripe for a rumpus—bang-up for a lark or spree.
at bang-up, adj.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 521: Others take the example of the bang ups—make themselves perfect in milling, swearing, greeking, talking flash.
at bang-up, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 563: Ladies’ dresses also used to be barked in Cranbourn Alley.
at bark, v.2
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 563: This is what we generally call a Barker. I believe the title originated with the Brokers in Moorfields, where men of this description parade in the fronts of their employers’ houses, incessantly pressing the passengers to walk in and buy household furniture, as they do clothes in Rosemary Lane, Seven Dials.
at barker, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 137: It may teach you a lesson that may keep you out of the clutches of Jock Ketch, and save you from dying in a horse’s night-cap—there, be off wid you.
at be off with you!, excl.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 189: Limping Billy, who though beat to a stand still, was after some difficulty lifted up behind.
at beat, adj.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 91: Bring your bellows* in good order, and don’t be afraid of your bread basket.† [*Bellows—A cant term for the lungs. † Bread-basket—The stomach].
at bellows, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 125: Blue bird’s eye wipe—A blue pocket handkerchief with white spots.
at bird’s eye wipe, n.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 246: If you have a horse you wish to dispose of, the same school will afford you instruction how to make the most of him, that is to say, to conceal his vices and defects [...] to alter his whole appearance by [...] Bishoping, blistering.
at bishop, v.2
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 149: Go it Kate!—Handle your dawdles, my girl; —shiver her ivory;—darken her skylights;—flatten her sneizer;—foul, foul,—ah you Munster b—ch!
at bitch, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 245: Fleecing each other is an every-day practice—every one looks put upon his fellow as a bite.
at bite, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London 552: ‘What have we here?—somebody has dropped a prize.’ ‘It is mine, Sir,’ said an old woman [...] ‘A bite,’ said Tom. ‘I dropp’d it from my pocket, Sir, just now.’.
at bite, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 96: ‘The lucky hit was all a miss.’ ‘Yes, there was a Miss taken, and a Biter bit. Love is a lottery as well as life.’.
at bite, v.
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London II 96: ‘The lucky hit was all a miss.’ ‘Yes, there was a Miss taken, and a Biter bit. Love is a lottery as well as life.’.
at biter, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 133: So tip us your mauley, and no more blarney.
at blarney, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 109: Die, like noble blockheads, for their pains.
at blockhead, n.1
[UK] ‘An Amateur’ Real Life in London I 557: The bilk is in such a hurry, cannot spare time to go to a shop to have the articles valued, but assures his intended victim, that, as they found together, he should like to smack the bit, without blowing the gap, and so help him God, the thing wants no buttering up, because he is willing to give his share for such a trifle. Blowing the gap Making any thing known.
at blow the gap (v.) under blow, v.1
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