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1778. D'Arblay, Diary, etc., 6 July, vol. I., ch. i., p. 15 (1876). So I trembled a few, for I thought, ten to one but he'd say: 'He?—not he—I promise you!'
1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xx., p. 173. I appeal to our mutual friend, Smallweed, whether he has or has not heard me remark, that I can't make him out. Mr. Smallweed bears the concise testimony, a few.
Fib, verb (Old Cant).—1. To beat;
specifically (pugilism) to get in a
quick succession of blows, as when
you get your man round the neck
(i.e., into chancery) and pommel
his ribs or face.
1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 49 (1874). Fib, to beat.
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Fib, to beat.
1811. Southey, Letters (ii., 236). I have been taking part in the controversy about 'Bell and the Dragon,' as you will see in the Quarterly, where I have fibbed the Edinburgh (as the fancy say) most completely.
1853. Thackeray, Men's Wives, Frank Berry, ch. 1. For heaven's sake, my boy, fib with your right, and mind his left hand!
1853. Rev. E. Bradley ('C. Bede'). Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 106. His whole person put in chancery, stung, bruised, fibbed, propped . . . and otherwise ill-treated.
1865. G. F. Berkeley, My Life, etc., I., 311. As there was no room to hit out, in the phraseology of the ring, I fibbed at half a dozen waistcoats and faces with all my might and main.
2. (colloquial and recognised).—To lie.
1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, Act iv., Sc. iii. You fib, you baggage, you do understand, and you shall understand.
1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. iv. Whereby one may know when you fib, and when you speak truth.
1755. Johnson, Dict, of Eng. Lang., s.v. Fib, a cant word amongst children.
1863. Alex. Smith, Dreamthorp, p. 11. Could I have fibbed in these days; Could I have betrayed a comrade?
Also, used substantively = (1) a lie; (2) a liar; see quot., 1862.
1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 2. If I had said so I should have told a FIB.
1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. III., ch. iv. Those who will tell one fib will hardly stick at another.
1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act iii. Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no fibs.
1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, chap. 58. 'Oh! you dreadful fib,' said Flora.
1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xix. Mrs. Charrington saw no harm . . . in the utterance of a pretty fib; but she refused to place a deliberate lie upon paper.
Fibber, subs. (colloquial).—A liar.
[From Fib.]
1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Fibber (s.) a liar, one who speaks falsely, etc.
1785. Wolcot, Lyric Odes, No. 6, in wks. (1809), i., 67. Your royal grand-*sire (trust me, I'm no fibber) Was vastly fond of Colley Cibber.
1882. Jas. Payn, For Cash Only, ch. xxvi. For one's lover to be a fibber is bad enough, but to be a forger
Fibbery, subs. (colloquial).—Lying.
1857. Ducange Anglicus, Vulg. Tongue. 'The Leary Man.' And if you come to fibbery You must mug one or two.
Fibbing, subs. (pugilist).—1. Pummelling
an opponent's head while
'in chancery'; a drubbing. Fr.,
bordée de coups de poings. [From
Fib (q.v.).]
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Mem. to Cong., p. 2. And if the Fine Arts Of fibbing and loving be dear to your hearts.
1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 268 (ed. 1864). Resolved his fibbing not to mind.
1837. Barham, I. L. (The Ghost). Whom sometimes there would come on a sort of fear his Spouse might knock his head off, Demolish half his teeth, or drive a rib in, She shone so much in 'facers' and in fibbing.
