单词 | to maund abraham |
释义 | > as lemmasto maund Abraham 5. slang. to sham Abraham (originally Nautical): to feign insanity, esp. in order to beg (formerly also †to maund Abraham; cf. Abraham man n.); (in extended use) to feign illness in order to avoid work, to malinger. Cf. sham-Abraham at sham v. 6b. Now historical. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)] > pretend illness to maund Abraham1610 malinger1820 skulk1826 soldier1890 1610 S. Rid Martin Mark-all sig. E2 He maunds Abram, he begs as a madde man. 1752 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 140/2 As he [sc. Capt. Lowry] went along some sailors cry'd out..that He must not sham Abram (a cant sea phrase when a sailor is unwilling to work on pretence of sickness, and used by the captain when Hossack was almost expiring under his blows). 1760 O. Goldsmith in Brit. Mag. June 372/1 I sham'd Abraham, merely to be idle. ?1795 Garland New Songs 2 I've heard people say, sham Abraham you may, But you mus'n't sham Abraham Newland. 1827 W. Scott Surgeon's Daughter in Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. II. vii. 180 It's good enough, and too good, for a set of lubbers, that lie shamming Abraham. 1834 Liverpool Mercury 23 May 168/2 The member for Oldham has of late either been indisposed, or has been ‘shamming Abraham’. 1863 C. Reade Hard Cash II. xix. 284 ‘Look out,’ he cried in some alarm; ‘he's shamming Abraham.’ 1932 Times 2 Dec. 9/4 One of the hands ‘shammed Abraham’ and had to be put in irons. 1984 P. O'Brian Far Side of World i. 71 Most lunatics are only shamming Abraham to get out of work. < as lemmas |
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