to bar the bubble
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To except against the general rule, that he who lays the odds must always be adjudged the loser: this is restricted to betts laid for liquor.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to bar the bubble” mean?
To except against the general rule, that he who lays the odds must always be adjudged the loser: this is restricted to betts laid for liquor.
Is “to bar the bubble” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.