Heading
c. 1879. Music Hall Song (sung by Jenny Hill, the 'Vital Spark'). You may get over water-butts, You may get over fountains, But I'll take particular notice that you don't get over Sal.
1884. Daily Telegraph, March 11, p. 2, col. 1. 'But don't you try and come it over me, or you'll find yourself in the wrong box.'
Come [the old Soldier, or any person or thing] Over One, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To imitate; to overbear; to wheedle; to rule by an assumption of authority. Fr., essay er de monter un bateau à quelqu'un; or monter le coup or un battage.
1713. C. Shadwell, Humours of the Army, Act iii. The Devil a Farthing he owes me—but however, I'll put the old soldier upon him.
1825. Scott, St. Ronan's Well, ch. xviii. Were it not that I think he has scarce the impudence to propose such a thing to succeed, curse me but I should think he was coming the old soldier over me, and keeping up his game.
1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 369 (ed. 1857). 'Ah, by jove, he has!' replied Smangle. 'Hear him come the four cats in the wheelbarrow—four distinct cats, sir, I pledge you my honour Now you know that's infirnal clever'
1839. The Druid. 'Post and Paddock.' The only way his crime to cover, To hide his shame from children's eye, Is not to try and come the lover But stable-wards at once to fly.
1855. W. M. Thackeray, The Newcomes, II., 253. 'I had a letter this morning from my liberal and punctual employer, Thomas Potts, Esquire, of the Newcome Independent, who states, in language scarcely respectful, that Sir Barnes Newcome Newcome is trying to come the religious dodge, as Mr. Potts calls it.'
1877. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. i. 'She's rather serious, you know, and would like to come the maternal over you.'
1877. Five Years Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 167. To hear him speak, one might imagine him as innocent as a lamb, and as green as a schoolboy, but just try to come the hanky-panky and play the old soldier with him.
1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple. Permit me, if you and your two friends think of coming what is vulgarly called the old soldier over me, to make you understand that you had better abandon the intention.
Come Round, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To influence; to circumvent; to persuade. Cf., Come over, and come about, sense 1.
1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. xi. Finally, the reports were that the governess had come round everybody, wrote Sir Pitt's letters, did his business, managed his accounts—had the upper hand of the whole house.
Come Souse, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To fall heavily. Also Cosouse.
1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib's Mem. to Cong. As it was, Master Georgy came souse with the whack, And there sprawled, like a turtle turned queer on its back.
Come the Gum Game, verbal phr. (Western American).—To overreach by concealment; [From the preference shown by hunted opossums and racoons for gum trees as places of refuge.]
1869. Kansas City Advertiser, 7 May. You can't come that gum game over me any more; I've been to the land-office and know all about the place.
Come Through a Side Door, verbal phr. (common).—To be born illegitimately.
c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, 'The Blessed Orphan.' I don't think I was born at all, No parents own I came here; I was left at a house of call. Close by a Pickford's van here, Some wicked wretches say, but I My indignation smother, That I came through a side door In this world from the other.
Come TO Stay, verbal phr. (American).—To be endowed with permanent qualities. Thus the New York Morning Journal announces
