Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 2.pdf/406

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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 spiritous 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).—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