1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. vi. 'She is . . . not a brimstone, like Kate Koddle, of Chatham.'
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal, II., 190. I hate the law damnably ever since I lost a year's pay for hindering our boatswain's mate's brother from beating his wife. The brimstone swore I beat her husband, and so I paid for meddling.
1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxiii. Who seemed, too, to have a temper of her own, and promised, under circumstances, to turn out a bit of a b—mst—ne.
2. (old.)—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.
1785. Grose. Brim (abbreviation of brimstone), an abandoned woman; perhaps originally only a passionate or irascible woman, compared to brimstone for its inflammability.
Briney or Briny, subs. (popular).—The sea. A 'dip in the briney' once a year is a great attraction to Cockney excursionists. Hotten tells a story of one excursionist saying to another, as they stripped in a double machine. 'Why, 'Arry what dirty feet you've got!' ''Ave I; well yer see I wasn't down last year.' [From the adj. signifying, 'of or pertaining to brine or the sea.']
1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. xiv. The luckless plight in which a stout gentleman had found himself, by the temporary loss of all his apparel, while he was disporting in the BRINY.
1881. Punch, Jan. 15, p. 14. Grigsby. Hullo, my Jellaby, you here! Come and take a dip in the briny, old man. I'm sure you look as if you wanted it. Postlethwaite. Thanks, no. I never bathe. I always see myself so dreadfully foreshortened in the Water, you know!
1889. Sporting Times, June 29. Next day bathing, returning from which we beheld a curious sight, three nymphs carrying down to the strand a bath in which one of them was, apparently with a curious mistrust of the sea, going to try the briny.
English Synonyms. Herring pond; big pond; big drink; the puddle; Davy's locker.
French Synonyms. La grande tasse (familiar: properly 'the big cup.' Boire dans la grande tasse, 'to be drowned'); la grande bleue (popular: the great blue—an allusion to the colour of deep sea water); le grand salé (popular: literally 'the great salt'); le pré salé (popular: properly the salted or briny meadow.)
Bring Down the House, verbal phr. (general).—To elicit loud applause; and, still more figuratively, to be successful. [The figure of speech is that demonstrative applause will cause the walls to give way. Cf., To RAISE THE ROOF OFF.]
1754. World, II., No. 76, 125. His apprehension that your statues will BRING THE HOUSE DOWN.
1853. Rev. E. Bradley ('Cuthbert Bede'), Adventures of Verdant Green, II., p. 23. Why, it would surpass the British sailor's broadsword combat for six, and BRING DOWN THE HOUSE.
1872. Forster, Life of Charles Dickens, ch. xliv. (IV., p. 252). 'And give us your applause, for that is always just'! Which BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE with rapture.
1877. Mrs. Riddell, Her Mother's Darling, II., p. 61 (ch. xii). I do not fancy she would ever forgive any of us if Honie were to bring down the house at Elm Vale.
1889. Bird o' Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 3. But Samson's crowning feat of all was to break with his fist two steel chains, suspended from a couple of posts. This fairly brought down the house.
Brisket-Beater, subs. (old).—A Roman Catholic. Cf., Breast fleet and Craw-thumper, synonymous terms. Quoted by Grose [1785].
