subs. and verb [and derivative. DODGING, verb. subs.] (colloquial).—To trick; to swindle; to elude. Once slang, now recognised. Used in various combinations: THE PIOUS DODGE = a pretence of piety; THE TIDY-DODGE = begging in the streets with tidily but poorly dressed children, etc. Also, to ‘nart.’ For synonyms, see LAY.
1708. SWIFT, An Argument against Abolishing Christianity, in prose wks. (Camelot Cl.), p. 235. The chaffering with dissenters, and DODGING about this or the other ceremony.
1754. B. MARTIN, English Dictionary (2nd ed.). To DODGE … 2. To be off and on. 3. To prevaricate, or play shifting tricks.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 135 (ed. 1857). ‘It was all false, of course?’ ‘All, sir.’ replied Mr. Weller, ‘reg’lar do, sir; artful DODGE.’
1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. i., p. 227. Conscious how much their own livelihood depends upon assumption and trickery, they naturally consider that others have some DODGE, as they call it, or some latent object in view when any good is sought to be done them.
1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 217.
| Long though your sentence and your task severe, | |
| The pious DODGE a ticket soon will send. |
1865. Spectator, 2 Dec., Women’s Tact. [Mrs. Caudle.] Nagged, and nagging is universally useful only with maids. She lost her temper occasionally, and the suffering angel DODGE is a very much more effective as well as Christian resource.
1865. Spectator (On the Academy Dinner), p. 492. Earl Russell … broke loose from one conventionality of public dinners to fall into another. He DODGED the toast of Her Majesty’s Ministers, and did not promise the Academy.
1883. Daily Telegraph, 23 March, p. 6, col. 1. He is naturally anxious to ascertain if any new DODGE has been brought to light, and what was the amount of the penalty imposed for its perpetration.
