4. (American).—A discarded mistress.—Matsell (1859).
Verb. (thieves').—1. To kill. Whence outing-dues.
1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 279. It was a dire calamity for a Cohen to handle the dead. "He is out," gasped the Jew.
1900. Sims, In London's Heart, 294. He glanced contemptuously at the prostrate form of his accomplice. "Looks like I've outed him," he said, "Good job if I have—he'll never blab again." Ibid. 123. "I'm hanged if I haven't done for him. It's outing dues this time if we're copped." "Dead!" exclaimed Joe.
2. (pugilists').—To knock out an opponent so that he fails to respond at the call of time.
1898. Pink 'Un and Pelican, 86. 'Gently, my lad, gently . . . yer don't want to knock 'im out yet; give us a little show o' yer quality afore you outs him.'
Adv. (old).—1. Tipsy: see Drinks and Screwed.
2. (colloquial).—General (society) = just presented; (cricketers') = sent from the wickets; (politicians')
not in office; (thieves')
released from gaol; (market-men's
not on sale; (popular)
(1) having a tendency to lose, (2) wrong, inaccurate, and (3) unfashionable.
1660. Pepys, Diary, 7 Oct. Calling at my father's to change my long black cloake for a short one (long cloakes being now quite out).
1877. Belgravia, August, 189. This young lady is only just out. She lacks the ease, the imperturbability, the savoir-vivre of her elder sister.
1877. Five Years' Penal Servitude, iii. 223. Oh, that's one of the cleverest gentlemen cracksmen out.
1885. Dickens, Dorrit, i. xvi. 123. They were all so easy and cheerful together (Daniel Doyce either sitting out like an amused spectator at cards, or coming in with some shrewd little experiences of his own, when it happened to be to the purpose).
To live out, verb. phr. (American).—To be in domestic service: i.e. as living from home.
b.1860. New York Tribune [Bartlett]. She came to this city and lived out as a cook.
18[?]. Terhune, Hidden Path, 78. She has never lived out before [Century].
Out of it (the hunt, or the running), adj. phr. (colloquial). 1. Debarred from participation; having no chance or share; completely ignorant.
1889. Echo, 9 Feb. For example—respecting 'the reversion' to the Laureateship—we were informed a day or two back that Mr. Browning was out of the running.
To stand out, verb. phr. (common).—To take no part.
Out of twig, adj. phr. (old).—1. See quot.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, ii. 194. To put any article out of twig, as a stolen coat, cloak, etc., is to alter it in such a way that it cannot be identified. Ibid. To put yourself out of twig, is to disguise your dress and appearance, to avoid being recognised, on some particular account.
2. (old).—See quot.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, ii. 149. A man reduced by poverty to wear a shabby dress is said by his acquaintances to be out of twig.
To play at in and out. See In and in and In and out.
Out of God's blessing into the warm sun, phr. (old).—From better to worse.
1581. Lyly, Euphues, Z. 3, b. Therefore if thou wilt follow my advice, and prosecut thine owne determination, thou shalt come out of a warme sunne into God's blessing.
1605. Shakspeare, Lear, ii. 2. Good King, thou must approve the common saw; Thou out of heaven's benediction comest To the warme sun.
