Heading
To draw the badger.—See Badger, verb.
To draw blanks, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fail; to be disappointed. [From drawing a blank in a lottery.]
To draw the bow up to the ear.—See Bow.
To draw or pull the long bow, verb. phr. (colloquial).—See Bow and quots., infra.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xxx. What is it makes him pull the long bow in that wonderful manner?
1883. A Dobson, Old World Idylls, p. 134. The great Gargilius, then, behold! His long bow hunting tales of old Are now but duller.
To draw the cork, verb. phr. (pugilistic).—To make blood to flow; to tap the claret (q.v.).
1860. Chambers' Journal, vol. XIII., p. 348.
To draw the King's or Queen's picture, verb. phr. (common).—To manufacture counterfeit coins.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
To draw wool or worsted, verb. phr. (tailors').—To irritate; to foment a quarrel. Cf., Comb one's hair.
Draw it mild! phr. (common).—An interjection of (1) derision; (2) incredulity; (3) supplication. Cf., Come it strong.
1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862.), p. 322. It was not so much for myself as for that vulgar child, And I said, 'A pint of double X, and please to draw it mild.'
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 60, col. 2. Draw it mild! as the boy with the decayed tooth said to the dentist.
1841. Comic Almanack, p. 271. Vehement cries of 'bravo!' and 'draw it mild!' here interrupt the speaker; but he declares he cannot draw it any milder.
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 10. Draw it mild, old fellow! interrupted the young gentleman in question.
1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 154. This caused angry words, and Nancy was solemnly requested to draw it mild, like a good soul.
1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gaultier Ballads. 'The Biter Bit.' And if you'd please, my mother dear, your poor desponding child, Draw me a pot of beer, mother, and mother! draw it mild.
Draw-boy, subs. (trade).—A superior
article ticketed and offered
at a figure lower than its value.
Cf., Draw, sense 2.
Drawer-on, subs. (colloquial).—An
appetiser: used only of food
as puller-on (q.v.) of drink.
Both are in Massinger.
Drawers, subs. (old).—Embroidered
stockings. Fr., bas-de-tire;
tirants brodanchés. Spanish,
demias; tirantes. German, Zehnling.
It., tiranti.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65, s.v.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club's Repr., 1874), s.v.
1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.
1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.
Draw-fart (or Doctor Draw-fart),
subs. (common).—A wandering
quack.
Draw-latch, subs. (old).—A thief;
also a loiterer.
1631. Chettle, Hoffman. Well, phisitian, attend in my chamber, heere, till Stilt and I returne; and if I pepper him not, say I am not worthy to be cald a duke, but a drawlatch.
