Verb (American). To jilt. Cf., subs., sense 3. For synonyms, see Mitten.
1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 602. To FLAT, in the West, means to jilt, and is probably derived from another slang phrase, 'to feel flat,' denoting the depression which is apt to follow such a disappointment.
To FEEL FLAT, verb. phr. (American).—1. To be low-spirited; out of sorts; OFF COLOUR (q.v.).
1838. J. C. Neal, Charcoal Sketches. Not to hurt a gentleman's feelings and to make him feel FLAT afore the country.
2. (American).—To fail; to give way. Also used substantively.
Flat as a flounder (or Pancake), phr. (colloquial).—Very flat indeed. Also FLAT AS BE BLOWED.
1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII, p. 177, col. 1.
TO BRUSH UP A FLAT. See Brusher.
To PICK UP A FLAT, verb. phr. (prostitutes'). To find a client. Fr., lever or faire un miché (miche = bread, from michon = money. Compare Breadwinner: under Monosyllable (q.v.)).
1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. On the chance that she will, in the course of the evening, PICK UP A FLAT.
TO HAVE (or DO) A BIT OF FLAT, verb. phr. (venery).—To indulge in sexual intercourse. For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
Flat-back, subs. (common).—A bed-bug. For synonyms, see Norfolk Howard.
Flat-broke, adj. (colloquial).—Utterly ruined; DEAD-BROKE (q.v.).
Flat-catcher, subs. (common).—An
impostor.
1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, i., 6. Cope (speaking of a horse). Well, Master Gull'em, do you think we shall get the FLAT-CATCHER off to-day?
1841. Blackwood's Mag., l., 202. Buttoners are those accomplices of thimble-riggers . . . whose duty it is to act as FLAT-CATCHERS or decoys, by personating flats.
1856. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 46. And FLAT-CATCHERS, or 'ring-droppers,' who cheat by pretending to find valuables in the street.
1864. London Review, June 18, p. 643. 'The Bobby' or chinked-back horse, is another favourite FLAT-CATCHER.
1869. Whyte-Melville, M. or N., p. 110. Rather a FLAT-CATCHER, Tom? said that nobleman, between the whiffs of a cigar.
Flat-catching, subs. (common).—Swindling.
1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 118, The no-pinned hero, on being elevated, gave, as a toast, 'Success to FLAT-CATCHING,' which produced roars of laughter and shouts of approbation.
1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. To mark the many kinds of bait that are used in FLAT-CATCHING, as the turf slang has it.
Flatch, adj. (back-slang).—A half. FLATCH-KENNURD = half drunk; FLATCH-YENORK = half-a-crown; FLATCH-YENNEP = a half-penny (see subs., sense 1).
Subs. 1.—A half-penny. [An abbreviation of FLATCH-YENNEP.] For synonyms, see Mag.
c. 1866. Vance, The Chickaleary Cove. I doesn't care a FLATCH as long as I've a tach.
2 (coiners').—A counterfeit half-crown. For synonyms, see Madza.
