long firm
A gang of swindlers who obtain goods by false pretences. They generally advertise or answer advertisements. The word LONG is supposed to be from a playful allusion made by one of the firm to the length of their credit.
Work & office · Công việc 355
Deadlines, bosses, hustle, and jargon for the working day.
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lump work
Work contracted for, or taken by the LUMP.
mace cove
A swindler, a sharper, a cheat. On the mace; to live by swindling.
old hand
An experienced person
old man
In American merchant ships, the master. The phrase is becoming common in English ships.
old stager
An experienced person, especially in a particular profession or activity
on the job
Having sex.
on the loose
Free to move or act without restriction
out of collar
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
p. p
An expression much in use among racing men, which means play or pay, i.e., either go on with the arrangement or forfeit the money. The following is a law of the turf on the subject:—
piece of work
A person or thing that is unusual or remarkable
put on
To promise another money or valuables in the event of an anticipated success. "You’re ON a quid if Kaiser wins," might often have been heard before last St. Leger. Many hangers-on of the turf live almost entirely by what they are PUT ON, by bookmakers and backers for whom they do odd work.
put to work
To start using something or someone for a practical purpose
Quick at meat, quick at work. (Strauss, 1994 p. 1150)
Those who eat quickly will also work quickly
respect is not given, it is earned
One must prove themselves worthy to receive respect
roaring trade
A very successful business.—Shopkeepers’ Slang.
rum cole
New money, or medals.
sank work
Tailors’ phrase for soldiers’ clothes. Perhaps from the Norman SANC, blood,—in allusion either to the soldier’s calling, or the colour of his coat.
sausage roll
A goal.
shoes, children’s, to make
To suffer oneself to be made sport of, or depreciated. Commonly used in Norfolk.—Cf. Mrs. Behn’s comedy, The Roundheads.
sleeping partner
A partner in a trade, or shop, who lends his name and money, for which he receives a share of the profit, without doing any part of the business.
stock jobbers
Persons who gamble in Exchange Alley, by pretending to buy and sell the public funds, but in reality only betting that they will be at a certain price, at a particular time; possessing neither the stock pretended to be sold, nor money sufficient to make good the payments for which they contract: these gentlemen are known under the different appellations of bulls, bears, and lame ducks.
take care of business
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
take it out
To obtain value for money, labour, &c. A rich man is said to "TAKE IT (i.e., his money) OUT in fine footmen, fine feeding," &c. A poor man "TAKES IT (i.e., his trouble) OUT in drink."
tale tellers
Persons said to have been formerly hired to tell wonderful stories of giants and fairies, to lull their hearers to sleep. Talesman; the author of a story or report: I'll tell you my tale, and my talesman. Tale bearers; mischief makers, incendiaries in families.
The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor upon the business known as gambling. (Ambrose Bierce)
Society frowns on gambling, but business involves similar risks
the labourer is worthy of his hire
Workers deserve fair payment for their work
the whole art of thieving
And Defrauding Discovered: being a Caution to all Housekeepers, Shopkeepers, Salesmen, and others, to guard against Robbers of both Sexes, and the best Methods to prevent their Villanies; to which is added an Explanation of most of the Cant terms in the Thieving Language, 8vo, pp. 46. 1786.
the work praises the man
A person's character is shown by their work.
thief takers
Fellows who associate with all kinds of villains, in order to betray them, when they have committed any of those crimes which entitle the persons taking them to a handsome reward, called blood money. It is the business of these thief takers to furnish subjects for a handsome execution, at the end of every sessions.
to bear the bell
To excel or surpass all competitors, to be the principal in a body or society; an allusion to the fore horse or leader of a team, whose harness is commonly ornamented with a bell or bells. Some suppose it a term borrowed from an ancient tournament, where the victorious knights bore away the BELLE or FAIR LADY. Others derive it from a horse-race, or other rural contentions, where bells were frequently given as prizes.
to bullock
To hector, bounce, or bully.
to fag
To beat. Fag the bloss; beat the wench; Cant. A fag also means a boy of an inferior form or class, who acts as a servant to one of a superior, who is said to fag him, he is my fag; whence, perhaps, fagged out, for jaded or tired. To stand a good fag; not to be soon tired.
to job
To reprove or reprehend. CAMBRIDGE TERM.
to recruit
To get a fresh supply of money.
tom long
A tiresome story teller. It is coming by Tom Long, the carrier; said of any thing that has been long expected.
topping fellow
One at the top or head of his profession.
try it on
to test or experiment with something
try on
To endeavour. To live by thieving. Coves who try it on; professed thieves.
two upon ten
Or TWO PUN’ TEN, an expression used by assistants to each other, in shops, when a customer of suspected honesty makes his appearance. The phrase refers to "two eyes upon ten fingers," shortened as a money term to TWO PUN’ TEN. When a supposed thief is present, one shopman asks the other if that TWO PUN’ (pound) TEN matter was ever settled. The man knows at once what is meant, and keeps a careful watch upon the person being served.
used up
Broken-hearted, bankrupt, fatigued, vanquished.
wise guy
A knowledgeable or successful sports bettor.
woman of all work
Sometimes applied to a female servant, who refuses none of her master's commands.
word grubbers
Verbal critics, and also persons who use hard words in common discourse.
work away
to work steadily and persistently
work like a dream
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
work of art
Something exceptionally well done
work out
To calculate.
work over
to thoroughly beat or attack someone
work spouse
A close colleague with whom one has a strong professional relationship
work the crowd
To interact with and persuade an audience
work the room
To interact and network with people in a social setting
work to rule
To deliberately follow rules and regulations exactly, often to slow down work or protest.
work with one's hands
To do physical or manual labor
working girl
A woman who works outside the home, especially in a low-paying job.