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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
A term applied during the railway mania to a speculator without capital, who took "scrip" in proposed lines, got the shares up to a premium, and then sold out. Caricaturists represented the house of Hudson, "the Railway King," at Albert Gate, with a STAG on it, in allusion to this term.
One loud enough to be heard. From the stage "asides."
To surprise. "He quite STAGGERED me with the information."
A calf just dropped, and unable to stand, killed for veal in Scotland: the hoofs of a young calf are yellow.
An animal to whom the knife only just anticipates death from natural disease or accident,—said of meat on that account unfit for human food. Also a newly-born calf.
Unevaporated fumes of liquor. A man is said to be STALE DRUNK when he has been drunk overnight, and has doctored himself with stimulants a little too much in the morning—when he has tried too many of the "hairs of the dog that bit him." If this state of things is long continued, it is often called "same OLD DRUNK," from a well-known nigger story.
Originally a horse covered with loose trappings, under which the mediæval sportsman concealed himself with his bow, so as to approach his game unobserved. Subsequently a canvas figure, made light, so as to be easily moved with one hand. Now used to represent any bugbear persistently paraded; any constant and unpleasant reference to the possible consequences of an act.
To lodge, or put up at a public-house. Also, to act a part.—Theatrical.
Go away; spoken sharply by any one who wishes to get rid of a troublesome or inconvenient person.
To put off by means of a device, to misdirect purposely.
Making or ordaining. Stalling to the rogue; an ancient ceremony of instituting a candidate into the society of rogues, somewhat similar to the creation of a herald at arms. It is thus described by Harman: the upright man taking a gage of bowse, i.e. a pot of strong drink, pours it on the head of the rogue to be admitted; saying,--I, A.B. do stall thee B.C. to the rogue; and from henceforth it shall be lawful for thee to cant for thy living in all places.
A broker's shop, or that of a receiver of stolen goods.
A man kept by an old lady for secret services.
Sometimes STALL, an accomplice.
A particular manner of throwing the dice out of the box, by striking it with violence against the table.
Shoes.—Ancient Cant.
"to STAND treat," to pay for a friend’s entertainment; to bear expense; to put up with treatment, good or ill, as, "Will you STAND that?" a question often asked when a man has been struck or insulted. Also in the sense of aggregate cost, as, "This house STOOD me in £1000;" i.e., cost that sum; "to STAND pad," to beg on the kerb with a small piece of paper pinned on the breast, inscribed, "I am starving."
He was run to a stand-still; i.e. till he could no longer move.
The position at a street corner, or on the kerb of a market street, regularly occupied by a costermonger, or street seller.
Men who take a stand on the kerb of a public thoroughfare, and deliver prepared speeches to effect a sale of any articles they have to vend. See PATTERER.
A tailor, a person under petticoat government,—derived from the custom of "riding the STANG," mentioned in Hudibras:—
Remedy, or the Way how to Reform Wandring Beggars, Thieves, &c., wherein is shewed that Sodomes Sin of Idleness is the Poverty and the Misery of this Kingdome, 4to. 1646.
A common abbreviation of the name of the well-known STAR AND GARTER Inn at Richmond. Clever people, who delight in altering names, call this hostelry the "Gar and Starter."
A horse who throws up his head; also a hedge whore.
To perform as the centre of attraction, with inferior subordinates to set off one’s abilities.—Theatrical.
Breaking shop-windows, and stealing some article thereout.
Stiff, prim, formal, affected.
Stuck-up, high-notioned, showily dressed, stiff and unbending in demeanour.
Originally STRIP-ME-NAKED, vide Randall’s Diary, 1820, raw gin.
Sprats. } All these will take the s, which is now initial,
"the START," London,—the great starting-point for beggars and tramps. This is a term also used by many of superior station to those mentioned.
One who leaves a jolly company, a milksop; he is no starter, he will sit longer than a hen.
Though now a recognised word, was originally slang. Its derivation is composite, and it was first introduced into the English language by Mr. Dundas, in a debate in the House of Commons on American affairs, in 1775. "I shall not," he said, "wait for the advent of STARVATION from Edinburgh to settle my judgment." From this he was always afterwards called STARVATION Dundas.—Horace Walpole’s Letters.
Stroud, Rochester, and Chatham; so called by soldiers and sailors, and not without good reason.
~Rob’em~, and ~Cheat’em~, the adjoining towns of Stroud, Rochester, and Chatham are so designated by soldiers and sailors; from some fancied peculiarities of the inhabitants.
To stop. To finish. To end. The cove tipped the prosecutor fifty quid to stash the business; he gave the prosecutor fifty guineas to stop the prosecution.
To cease doing anything, to refrain, be quiet, leave off; "STASH it, there, you sir!" i.e., be quiet, sir; to give over a lewd or intemperate course of life is to STASH it.
To lie in state; to be in bed with three harlots.
To exhibit powers of endurance at walking, running, rowing, &c.
One likely to persevere, one not easily discouraged. It is usual for laudatores temporis acti connected with the turf to deplore the want of staying power which, according to their statements, characterizes the modern British racehorse; while others, connected and disconnected with sport, make similar remarks with reference to the modern British man. So far, however, both descriptions of old gentlemen have failed signally in endeavouring to make out a good case.
A taylor; from that article, and its coadjutor buckram, which make no small figure in the bills of those knights of the needle.
Potato-pie at Manchester is so termed.
A pipe. A swell steamer; a long pipe, such as is used by gentlemen to smoke.
The house of correction.
The House of Correction in London, formerly named the Bastile, but since shortened to STEEL. See BASTILE.
A needle. A steel bar flinger; a taylor, stay-maker, or any other person using a needle.
Or FLINGERS, journeymen tailors.
A muslin neckcloth carelessly put on, from the manner in which the French officers wore their cravats when they returned from the battle of Steenkirk.
A name given to the church by Dissenters.
To run away, or make off.
Money. Stephen's at home; i.e. has money.
A decoction of raisins of the sun and lemons in conduit water, sweetened with sugar, and bottled up.
The treadmill; the "everlasting staircase."
Burnt rum, with a piece of butter: an American remedy for a cold.
A derogatory expression for a person; "a rum, or odd, STICK," a curious man. More generally a "poor STICK."—Provincial.
To keep any one waiting at an appointed place or time. To leave a friend or acquaintance to pay the whole or an undue share of a tavern bill.
Or GILLS, shirt collars.
One not likely to be easily shaken off, a stayer.
Coarse, bruised, or damaged meat sold to sausage-makers and penny pie-shops.
Household furniture.