Heading
to lay down (as in payment); to 'fork out.' For synonyms, see Shell out.
1701. Steele, The Funeral, Act ii., Sc. i. I must do according to my orders . . . except you'd come down a little deeper than you talk of:—You don't consider the charges I've been at already.
1727. Gay, Beggar's Opera, Act iii., Sc. i. Did he tip handsomely?—How much did he come down with?
1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136. 'Bolt!' she falter'd, 'from the gov'nor? Oh, my Colin, that won't pay; He will ne'er come down, my love, nor Help us, if we run away.'
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxix. My uncle augurs everything from the Begum's generosity, and says that she will come down very handsomely.
1889. Barrère, Sl., Jar., and Cant, (quoted in). Do you keep the gentleman in discourse while I speak to the prisoner, and see how he can come down.
2. (trade).—To abate prices.
Come down from the Walls,
verbal phr. (American).—To
abandon a position. Cf., Back
seat.
Comedy-Merchant, subs. (common).—An
actor. For synonyms,
see Cackling-cove.
Come it, verb (colloquial).—i. To
proceed at a great rate; to make
a splash and dash (in extravagance);
to 'cut a figure.' Cf.,
Come it strong and Go it.
1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch Book, p. 22. 'I think the chaps down the road will stare,' said Sam, 'when they hear how I've been coming it.'
2. (thieves').—To inform. For synonyms, see Peach.
1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. To inform = to come it.
1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., p. 126. The expression come it (to inform, tell, or disclose) is best known to the lower and most dangerous classes.
1889. Daily Telegraph. He heard one of the others say in reply, 'come it, meaning to tell—to be quiet.
3. (pugilistic).—To show fear.
4. (American).—To succeed. Especially in you can't come it, i.e., you cannot succeed: an expression of disbelief in the ability of another. Probably a survival of old English usage. Cf., Come over.
Come it Strong, verbal phr. (popular).—To exaggerate; to 'lay it on thick'; to carry to extremes. For synonyms, see Longbow. Cf, Come it.
1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 356 (ed. 1857). 'Vell, sir,' rejoined Sam, after a short pause, 'I think I see your drift; and if I do see your drift, it's my 'pinion that you're a comin' it a great deal too strong, as the mail-coachman said to the snow-storm, ven it overtook him.'
1837. Barham, I. L. (Lay of St. Gengulphus), ed. 1862, p. 157. He here shook his head,—Right little he said, But he thought she was coming it rather too strong.
1846. W. M. Thackeray, Yellow-*plush. 'Mr. Deuceace at Paris.' Now, though master was a scoundrill and no mistake, he was a gentleman and a man of good breeding; and miss came a little too strong (pardon the vulgarity of the expression), with her hardor and attachmint for one of his taste.
1869. Bret Harte, The Heathen Chinee. In his sleeves, which were long, He had twenty-four packs. Which was coming it strong.
Come John, or Lord, Audley.—See
John Audley.
Come off, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To
happen; to occur; to result
from.—See also Come,
sense 1.
1609. Jonson, Case is Altered, IV., iii. His muse sometimes cannot curvet, nor prognosticate, and come off as it should; no matter, I'll hammer out a paraphrase for thee myself.
