Fine, subs. (thieves’).—Punishment; a term of imprisonment. For
synonyms, see Dose. To fine = to sentence. [From the payment of money
imposed as a punishment for an offence.]
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. The cove had a fine
of two stretches and a half imposed upon him for relieving a joskin
of a load of cole.
To cut it fine.—See Cut fine.
To get one down fine and close, verb. phr. (American).—To find out all
about a man; to deliver a stinging blow.
All very fine and large, adj. phr. (common).—An interjection of (1)
approval; (2) derision; and (3) incredulity. [The refrain of a
music-hall song excessively popular about 1886–88.]
Fine as fivepence.—See Fivepence.
Fine day for the young ducks, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A very wet day.
Fine words butter no parsnips, phr. (colloquial).—A sarcastic retort
upon large promises.
Fine-drawing, subs. (tailors’).—Accomplishing an end without discovery.
Fineer, verb, Fineering, subs. (old).—See quot.
1765. Goldsmith, Essays, VIII. The second method of running into
debt is called fineering; which is getting goods made in such a
fashion as to be unfit for every other purchaser, and if the
tradesman refuses to give them on credit, then threatens to leave
them upon his hands.
Fine-Madam, subs. phr. (common).—An epithet of envy or derision for a
person (feminine) above her station.
Finger, subs. (American).—A ‘nip’; usually applied to spirituous
liquors. Thus, Three fingers of clear juice = Three ‘goes’ of whiskey.
1888. Newport Journal, 25 Feb. ‘Which is correct, spoonfuls or
spoons-ful, uncle?’ Denver uncle—‘Um—er—the fact is I don’t know,
my boy. In Denver, we don’t use either, we say fingers.’
Verb (venery).—To take liberties with a woman. For synonyms, see
Firkytoodle.
To put the finger in the eye, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To weep. For
synonyms, see Nap a bit.—[Grose, 1785.]
A bit for the finger, phr. (venery).—A lascivious endearment.
Finger and Thumb, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A road or highway, i.e.,
‘drum.’ For synonyms, see Drum.
Finger-Better, subs. (American).—A man who bets on credit; also one who
points out cards.
Finger-fucking, subs. phr. (venery).—Masturbation (said of women only).
For synonyms, see Frig.
Finger-post, subs. (common).—A clergyman. For synonyms, see
Devil-dodger.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. A parson: so called, because....
Like the finger-post he points out ... the way to heaven.
Finger-Smith, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pickpocket.
1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail [in Echo], 25 Jan., p. 2, col. 4.
The delicate expression fingersmith, as descriptive of the trade
which a blunt world might call that of a pickpocket.
2. (common).—A midwife. Fr., Madame tire-monde or tire-pouce
(Rabelaisian); Madame tire-mômes (môme = ‘kid’); une mômière
(thieves’); Madame tâte-minette, Madame guichet or Madame portière du
petit guichet (17th century phrases). Cf., Carver and Gilder.
Finish, verb (common).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.
Finisher, subs. (colloquial).—Something that gives the last, the
settling touch to anything. Cf., Corker, Clincher, etc.
1788–1841. Th. Hook [quoted in Annandale]. ‘This was a finisher,’
said Lackington.
Finjy! intj. (Winchester College).—An exclamation excusing one from
participation in an unpleasant or unacceptable task, which he who says
the word last has to undertake.
Finnuf.—See Finnup.
Finnup, (also finnip, finnuf, finnif, finnie, finn, or fin), subs.
(thieves’).—A five-pound note or flimsy (q.v.). [A Yiddish
pronunciation of German fünf = five.] Also finnup-ready (ready =
money). In America finnup = a five dollar bill. Double finnup = a ten
pound note.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 396.
The notes were all finnies (£5 notes), and a good imitation.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444. Five-pound notes,
Finnips, ten-pound notes, Double finnips.
1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. When we got into the rattler
they showed me the pass. Yes, there it was, fifty quids in double
finns.
Fippenny, subs. (Australian thieves’).—A clasp knife. For synonyms, see
Chive.
Fire, subs. (thieves’).—Danger.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. This place is all on
fire; I must pad like a bull or the cops will nail me.
Like a house on fire, adv. phr. (common).—Easily and rapidly. Cf.,
house, winking, one o’clock, cake, brick, etc.
To fire a shot, verb. phr. (venery).—To emit. Fr., tirer un coup.