Heading
whittled; wet; winey; yaupish, yappy, or yaupy. For other synonyms, see Screwed, and cf., Drunk as Davy's sow.
See also lists under Elbow-crooker; Drunk; Lush; Gallon Distemper; Gladstone; Pistol; Flesh and Blood; and Razors.
Dripper, subs. (old).—A gleet.
Dripping, subs. (common).—A
cook; especially an indifferent
one. Fr., un fripier and une
daube. Cf., doctor and slushy
(qv.) = a ship's cook.
Drive, subs. (common).—A blow.
Cf., 'let drive' = to aim a blow;
to strike. 'Four rogues in buckram
let drive at me.'—Shakspeare.
For synonyms, see Dig.
1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xix. Lord Charles, after three or four attempts, had managed to give him a violent 'drive' on the shins under the table.
Verb (cricket).—To send a ball off the bat with full force horizontally.
To drive at, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To aim at: e.g., What are you driving at? = What do you mean?
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, Act III., Sc. 2. I can't imagine what you drive at, Pray tell me what you mean.
1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act iii., p. 41 (2 ed.). Tru. What does the coxcomb drive at?
1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. IX., ch. iii. 'O, your servant, sir,' said the Colonel, 'I see what you are driving at.'
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xii. Howld yer impudence, ye young heretic doggrel-writer; can't I see what ye are driving at?
To drive a bargain, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To conduct a negotiation; to make the best terms you can; to dispute a condition or a price; to succeed in a 'deal.' Cf., to drive a humming trade.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia. My true love hath my heart, and I have his, There never was a better bargain driven.
1638. Ford, Lady's Trial, V., ii. Love drove the bargain, and the truth of love confirmed it.
1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, V., in wks. (1704), p. 172. How . . . goes the business between you and these ladies? Are you like to drive a bargain?
1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, ii., in wks. (1720), iv., 43. He never . . . drinks hard, but upon design, as driving a bargain, or so.
1697. Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife, II., i. Why, madam, to drive a Quaker's bargain, and make but one word with you, if I do part with it, you must lay down your affectation.
1712. Spectator, No. 450. I do not remember I was ever overtaken in drink, save . . . five times at driving of bargains.
1837. Lytton, Ernest Maltravers, wks. IV., ch. vii. You'll drive a much better bargain with me than with her.
1855. Mrs. Gaskell, North and South, ch. xxvii. As it affected his branch of the trade he took advantage of it, and drove hard bargains.
To drive a humming or roaring trade, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To do well in business.
1625. Jonson, Staple of News, II. And as you say, drive a quick pretty trade still.
1736. Fielding, Don Quixote, III., iv. You are to drive a humming trade here.
1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. vii. The vendors of apples, oranges, and gingerbread . . . were driving a roaring trade.
1883. A. Dobson, Hogarth, p. 71. The gentleman at the sign of the 'Three Balls' is driving a roaring trade.
To drive oneself to the wash, verb. phr. (common).—To drive in a basket-chaise.
