English · Slang Historical

bend

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

"that’s above my bend," i.e., beyond my power, too expensive or too difficult for me to perform.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “bend” mean?

"that’s above my bend," i.e., beyond my power, too expensive or too difficult for me to perform.

Is “bend” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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