Heading
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-
