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pull a fast one Hello! I'd like to know the origin of this idiom. Thanks in advance :-)
Oct 9, 2010 5:26 PM
Answers · 5
2
Hi another way of expressing this is, "Pull a swifty".
October 9, 2010
1
Pull a fast one (Origin): The actual source of the expression is from the early 19th century when paper currency was first coming into public acceptance, after centuries of exclusive reliance on precious-metal coinage. To "pull a fast one" refers to palming (pulling) a bill or banknote during a shortchanging maneuver. The analogy to card-playing seems obvious, but I think "pull a fast one" is more a grassroots term than a bit of gambling argot, and in the early days of paper money the average person was much more likely to come into contact with shortchange grifters than cardsharks.
October 9, 2010
1
Hmmm this phrase is so common no-one seems definite about where it came from. The best explanation I've found is about a magician's sleight-of-hand, ie. "the hand is quicker than the eye". Since this also involves tricking someone, that may be the original "fast one". Who knows?
October 9, 2010
I hear "pull a swifty" more, and quite often in reference to being ripped off. It means to trick someone.
October 10, 2010
It originated when I first invented it.
October 9, 2010
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