1848. Ruxton, Life In The Far West, 85. They quickly disposed of
their peltries, and were once more on the loose.
1848. Jas. Hannay, King Dobbs, iv. p. 63 (1856). One evening, when
they were at Gibraltar, on the look-out for amusement—in modern
parlance, on the loose.
1859. Punch, vol. xxxvii. p. 22. Our friend prone to vices you
never may see, Though he goes on the loose, or the cut, or the
spree.
1871. All the Year Round, Sept. He lives by anything rather than by
steady work, though sometimes, when a virtuous fit is on him, and
he is not out on the rampage, the loose, or the spree, as the
vernacular of the place may have it.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 26 Dec. When a labouring man falls into the
state which is indifferently termed being tight, or being on the
loose, he is only taking a coarse but natural revenge for the
previous neglect of the better things in his nature.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 70. Been out on the
loose all the morning.
1884. Cornhill Mag., Dec., p. 607. Then presently, from the effect
of alcohol and the sense of other relief, Sir Samuel went off again
on the loose for about ten days.
To play fast and loose. See Fast.
To run loose, verb. phr. (racing).—See quot.
1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, 115. He was much more prudent
in his speculations than his partner, and did not at all like the
idea of letting a dangerous horse what is termed run loose, that
is, unbacked, which might cost him a deal of money.
1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 3 April. But the wise will eschew the
youngsters, and seek for the winner among the older horses. Of whom
the slashing Lord George must assuredly not be allowed to run
loose.
To have a screw loose. See Screw.
To shake a loose leg, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To whoremonger; and
(2) to whore.
Loose in the haft (or hilt), phr. (colloquial).—1. Wanton; (2)
diarrhœric; (3) untrustworthy.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 56. A government that is loose in the hilt.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 54]. To be loose in the hilts.
Tentennar nel manico—Ital. To be fickle, not to be relied upon.
Turned loose, phr. (racing).—Handicapped in a race at a very low rate.
At loose ends, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Neglected.
Loose-bodied (or loose-ended), adj. (old).—Lewd.
1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, ii. 1. Be wise, and take heed of him;
he’s giddy-headed and loose-bodied.
Loose-bodied gown, subs. phr. (old).—A harlot. For synonyms see
Barrack-hack and Tart.
1602. Dekker, Honest Whore [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), iii. 479].
Yet if I go among the citizens’ wives, they jeer at me; if I go
among the loose-bodied gowns, they cry a pox on me, because I go
civilly attired; and swear their trade was a good trade, ’till such
as I am took it out of their hands.
Loose-box, subs. (common).—A brougham or other vehicle kept for the use
of a mistress; a mot-cart (q.v.).
Loose-coat game, subs. (old).—Copulation.—Urquhart. For synonyms see
Greens and Ride.
Loose-fish, subs. (common).—1. A dissipated character; a bad-egg
(q.v.).
1827. Egan, Anecdotes of the Turf, 72. A game known among the
loose-fish who frequent races by the name of thimble-rig.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxii. ‘Our friend Clavering ... who,
between you and me ..., we must own is about as loose a fish as any
in my acquaintance.’
1856. C. Reade, Never Too Late, xliv. In short Mr. Mills was a
loose fish; a bachelor who had recently inherited the fortune of an
old screw his uncle, and was spending thrift in all the traditional
modes.