Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 5.pdf/243

 Pogy, adj. (old).—Drunk. See Drinks and Screwed.—Grose (1785); Halliwell (1847). [Cf. (Bee, 1823) 'Pogey-aqua—long-shore for—make the grog strong.']

1881. New York Slang Dict., 42. Without his bloss to prevent him from getting pogy.

Point, subs. (colloquial).—in pl. = Beauties: of women or children: accepted as applied to the characteristics of animals.

1370. Torrent of Portugal [Halliwell], 1910. This lady delyvered were, Of men children two. In poyntes they were gent, And like they were to Ser Torent.

Possession is nine (or ELEVEN) POINTS OF THE LAW, phr. (colloquial).—Said in deprecation of any attempt to change things as they are, or to seek redress.

1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge], 368. At least she had possession, and that is nine points of the law, though scarcely one of honesty.

Phrases, more or less colloquial, are numerous. They mostly centre on a figurative use of point = (1) a sharp end, or (2) a small but well-defined spot: as a dot, a speck, a hole, a moment, &c. TO SEE (TELL, or MAKE PLAIN) A point = to understand (narrate or explicate) the drift, or application of a thing: as an argument, a narrative, a detail; to CARE (or BE WORTH) BUT A point = to esteem lightly; POINT (like PIN, RAP, CENT, &C.) = the smallest standard of value; TO UNTRUSS A POINT = (1) to take down one's breeches, and hence (2) to ease one's bowels; point = a tagged lace, used of old to keep doublet and hose together; to give point to (or BRING A POINT TO BEAR ON) = to emphasise: also to point; TO COME TO THE POINT = to go to the root of a matter; TO boil down (or close) to a point = (1) to condense: as a paragraph, and (2) to balance: as an account; TO STRETCH (or STRAIN) A POINT = to exceed a limit (Grose); TO MAKE A POINT OF = (1) to strive (or insist) to an end, and (2) to elicit a detail or make a desired impression (also to PROVE ONE'S POINT); TO GAIN one's point = to effect a purpose; TO STAND ON POINTS = to be punctilious; TO BE at a point = to be determined; TO come to points = to fight: with swords; to give points to = (1) to have (or give) an advantage, and (2) to impart exclusive or valuable information, TO tip (q.v.): also POINTERS; AT ALL points = completely; AT (or in) the point = (1) ready, and (2) in the act of; in good point = in good condition (Fr. embonpoint); in POINT = apropos; IN point OF = as regards; point for point = exactly; TO point = completely; beyond a point = in excess; a point in favour = an advantage in hand; full of point = epigrammatic, effective; THE POINT OF A MATTER = its end or purpose; at Point Nonplus = hard up, in Queer ST. (q.v.); AT POINT BLANK = immediately, direct. ]See also Cuckold's Point; Potato; Spear; and V.

1350. William of Palerne [E.E. T.S.], 107. Armed at alle poyntes.

1358. Chaucer, Parliament of Fowls [Chaucer Soc.], 76. [Oliphant, New Eng., 1. 112. Another verb is dropped in to the poynte.]

1359. Gaytrigg [Relig. Pieces (E.E.T.S.), 29]. And prove his poynt [purpose].