Dudman and Ramehead meet; when the world grows honest; when the Yellow River runs clear; on the 31st June (or some other impossible date); once in a blue moon; when two Sundays come in a week; when the devil is blind (or blind drunk); at Doomsday; one of these odd-come-shortlys; when my goose pisses; when the ducks have eaten up the dirt; when pigs fly; on St. Geoffrey's day (Grose).
French synonyms.—Dans une semaine de trois ou quatre jeudis; Mardi s'il fait chaud (obsolete); Dimanche après la grande messe; quand les poules pisseront.
1691-2. Gentlemen's Journal, Feb., 25. And then from Queen Dick got a patent On Charlton Green to set up a tent.
1864. Standard, 13 Dec. A bus driver in altercation with his conductor, who threatened him with paying off soon, replied, Oh yes, in the reign of Queen Dick.
Queen Elizabeth. 1. See Queen
Anne.
2. (thieves').—The street-door key: see Betty.
Queen Elizabeth's Pocket-pistol,
subs. phr. (old).—'A
brass cannon of a prodigious
length at Dover Castle.'—B. E.
(c. 1696).
1751. Smollett, Per. Pickle, xxxiv. The company walked up hill to visit the castle, . . . where they saw Queen Elizabeth's pocket-pistol.
Queenite, subs. (obsolete).—A
partizan of Queen Caroline. [The
consort of George IV.] Cf.
Kingite.
1834. Southey, The Doctor; Interch., xvi. He thought small beer at that time of some very great patriots and Queenites.
Queen-of-holes, subs. phr.
(venery).—The female pudendum:
see Monosyllable.
d. 1680. Rochester, On the Charms of Hidden Treasure [Works (1718), 1. 91]. Thou mighty Princess, lovely Queen of Holes, Whose monarchy the bravest man controls.
Queen-of-the-dripping pan,
subs. phr. (common).—A cook.
Queen's (or King's) Ale, subs.
phr. (old).—The strongest ale
brewed.
1574. Burgh Rec. Glasgow (1876), 1. 25. That thair be na derare aill sauld nor sax penneies the pynt, and that the samyn be Kingis aill and verraye guid.
Queen's bad-bargain (or Shilling).—See
Q. H. B.
Queen's Bays (The), subs. phr.
(military).—The Third Dragoon
Guards, now "The Bays." [The
Corps were (c. 1767) mounted on
bay horses; the other heavy regiments
(except the Scots Greys)
having black.]
Queen's Bus, subs. phr. (thieves').—A
prison van: Black Maria
(q.v.); also Her Majesty's
Carriage.
Queen's (or King's) Carriage (or
Cushion), subs. phr. (common).—An
improvised seat: made by
two persons crossing and clasping
hands, the rider holding both
bearers round the neck; as
bandy-chair (q.v.)
1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, vii. He was now mounted on the hands of two of the rioters, clasped together, so as to form what is called . . . the King's cushion.
Queen's College.—See College.
