Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 4.pdf/279

 To make hay, verb. phr. (common).—To tumble; to confuse; to disorder.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xiii. His usual holiday amusements were these—to interrupt his sister's lessons as much as possible, and in the absence of the governess, to (as he called it) make hay in the school-room.

To make meat of, verb. phr. (American).—To kill.

1841. Ruxton, Life in the Far West, p. 3. Poor Bill Bent! them Spaniards made meat of him.

To make a house, verb. phr. (Parliamentary).—To gather a quorum (40 members).

1864. The Spectator, p. 529. Nobody played marplot, but the division revealed the absence of a quorum, and a bill which interests all capitalists, and will before long interest every taxpayer, was interrupted by mere official carelessness as to making a house.

As good (bad, hot, drunk, etc.) as they make them, phr. (common).—As good, bad, etc. as may be.

187[?]. Broadside Ballad, 'As good as they make 'em' [Title].

1889. Modern Society, 12 Oct., p. 1265, col. 2. About a dozen yards in, I think you said, and the tide coming in about as fast as they make it. Ibid. p. 1267, col. 2. The couple were engaged to be married, and Miss King, who seems to be as sentimental as Americans are made, suggested that they should carry out the marriage ceremony in Greenwood Cemetery.

1889. Bird o' Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. On reaching the party it was evident that one of the Frenchmen was, not to put too fine a point on it, about as drunk as they make 'em. He opened the campaign by asking us to have a drink with him. Of course, he spoke in French.

1890. G. Allen, The Tents of Shem, iii. I like them; thorough ladies, and well brought up, and as clever as they make them.

1894. George Moore, Esther Waters, xvii. You are as strong as they make 'em.

Make him swim for it, phr. (American thieves').—See quot.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.y. Make him swim for it. Cheat him out of his share.

See also Back; bacon; Bates; beef; blue; bones; books; buttons; children's shoes; clean breast; clean sweep; clink; crimson; ducks-and-drakes; face; feather; figure; fish; flash; fool; fun; fur; good; hair; hand; hare; hash; hay; honest woman; kiss; leg; lip; long-arm; lucky; man; meal; meat; mouth; night; pile; play; point; Queen Anne's fan; raise; running; scarce; show; splash; split; stand; things; tracks; turkey-merchant; two come; Virginia fence; water; whack; whole cloth; woman; etc. etc.

Makepeace, subs. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see Toko.

1657. Cole, Adam in Eden. It [the birch] is useful for the punishment of children, both at home and at school, for it hath an admirable influence on them when they are out of order, and therefore some call it makepeace.

Maker, subs. (American).—A tailor; a pricklouse (q.v.). For synonyms see Snip. Span, picapiojos.

1833. Neal, Down Easters, v. 63. 'Who's your maker?' 'My maker!—Oh! I understand you, my tailor you mean?' 'Yes—who made your coat?'

Makeshift, subs. (old).—A thief. For synonyms see Thieves.

1584. A Mirour for Magistrates of Cyties, fol. 33 (back). London is sore charged with these makeshiftes.

Makesures, subs. (potmen's).—Petty pilferings; fluff (q.v.); cabbage (q.v.). Fr. la gratte.