Foolometer, subs. (colloquial).—A standard, positive or neuter, whereby to gauge the public taste.
Fool's Father, subs. phr.
(theatrical).—The pantaloon or
old 'un. (q.v.)
Fool-sticker, subs. phr. (venery).—The
penis. For synonyms, see
Creamstick and Prick. Also
Fool-maker.
Fool's Wedding, subs. phr. (common).—A
party of women. For
synonyms, see Hen Party.
Fool-trap, subs. (colloquial).—1.
A fool-monger (q.v.),
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.
3. (colloquial).—A high-class harlot.
Foont, subs. (thieves')—A sovereign
[Probably a corruption of Ger.
Pfund.] For synonyms, see
Canary,
1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 502. The mob got me up a break (collection), and I got between five or six foont (sovereigns).
Foot, verb. (common).—1. To
acknowledge payment; e.g., to
foot a bill; cf., Foot-up.
1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, p. 183. If our plan succeeded the landlord was to foot the bill, and stand treat.
2. (football and colloquial).—To kick; to hoof (q.v.). Cf., Merchant of Venice, I., 3, You, that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me, as you spurn a stranger cur.
1852. Bristed, Upper Ten Thousand, p. 223. Both teams were footing their very best.
To foot it, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To walk. For synonyms, see Pad the Hoof.
1892. Price, From Arctic Ocean to Yellow Sea. The discomfort of having to foot it.
To foot-up, verb. phr. (American colloquial).—To sum up the total (of a bill); to tot up (q.v,). Hence, to pay; to discharge one's obligations; to reckon up (q.v.); to summarize both merits and defects, and strike a balance. Footing-up = the reckoning, the sum total. Fr., gomberger.
1865. Sala, A Trip to Barbary. The Arab abhors statistics. He won't be tabulated if he could help it, and were you to go to Algeria, Doctor Colenso, you would find a deeply rooted objection among the people to the reckoning, or footing-up, as the Americans call it, of anything animate or inanimate.
1871. De Vere Americanisms, p. 310. To foot a bill, by paying the amount at the bottom of the account, is a phrase equally well known abroad and with us.
1882. McCabe, New York, XXI., 333. The transactions of 'the Street' foot up an almost fabulous sum daily.
1884 G. A. S[ala], in Ill. Lon. News, 29 March, p. 294, col. 3. They foot up (American English) to an almost alarming amount in thousands of dollars.
To put one's best foot (or leg) foremost, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To use all possible despatch; to exert oneself to the utmost.
1596. Shakspeare, King John, iv., 2. Nay, but make haste; the better foot before.
To put one's foot into anything, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To make a mess of it; to get into a scrape. The bishop (i.e., the Devil) has put his foot in it (Old English proverb) is said of burned porridge or over-roasted meat.—Grose. Fr., faire une gaffe.
1823. Bee, Dict. of the Turf, s.v.
