spree, as the vernacular of the place may have it.
1871. Daily Telegraph, 26 Dec. When a labouring man falls into the state which is indifferently termed being tight, or being on the loose, he is only taking a coarse but natural revenge for the previous neglect of the better things in his nature.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 70. Been out on the loose all the morning.
1884. Cornhill Mag., Dec., p. 607. Then presently, from the effect of alcohol and the sense of other relief, Sir Samuel went off again on the loose for about ten days.
To play fast and loose. See Fast.
To run loose, verb. phr. (racing).—See quot.
1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, 115. He was much more prudent in his speculations than his partner, and did not at all like the idea of letting a dangerous horse what is termed run loose, that is, unbacked, which might cost him a deal of money.
1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 3 April. But the wise will eschew the youngsters, and seek for the winner among the older horses. Of whom the slashing Lord George must assuredly not be allowed to run loose.
To have a screw loose. See Screw.
To shake a loose leg, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To whore-*monger; and (2) to whore.
Loose in the haft (or hilt), phr. (colloquial).—1. Wanton; (2) diarrhœric; (3) untrustworthy.
1662. Rump Songs, ii. 56. A government that is loose in the hilt.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 54]. To be loose in the hilts. Tentennar nel manico—Ital. To be fickle, not to be relied upon.
Turned loose, phr. (racing).—Handicapped in a race at a very low rate.
At loose ends, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Neglected.
Loose-bodied (or loose-ended),
adj. (old).—Lewd.
1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, ii. 1. Be wise, and take heed of him; he's giddy-headed and loose-bodied.
Loose-bodied gown, subs. phr.
(old).—A harlot. For synonyms
see Barrack-hack and Tart.
1602. Dekker, Honest Whore [Dodsley, Old Plays (1874), iii. 479]. Yet if I go among the citizens' wives, they jeer at me; if I go among the loose-bodied gowns, they cry a pox on me, because I go civilly attired; and swear their trade was a good trade, 'till such as I am took it out of their hands.
Loose-box, subs. (common).—A
brougham or other vehicle kept for
the use of a mistress; a mot-cart
(q.v.).
Loose-coat game, subs. (old).—Copulation.—Urquhart.
For
synonyms see Greens and Ride.
Loose-fish, subs. (common).—1. A
dissipated character; a bad-egg
(q.v.).
1827. Egan, Anecdotes of the Turf, 72. A game known among the loose-fish who frequent races by the name of thimble-rig.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, lxii. 'Our friend Clavering . . . who, between you and me . . ., we must own is about as loose a fish as any in my acquaintance.'
1856. C. Reade, Never Too Late, xliv. In short Mr. Mills was a loose fish; a bachelor who had recently inherited the fortune of an old screw his uncle, and was spending thrift in all the traditional modes.
2. (parliamentary).—See quot.
1864. Saturday Review, July, 'Stray Votes.' The game he has in
