subs. (thieves’).—Danger.

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  1859.  G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon. ‘This place is all on FIRE; I must pad like a bull or the cops will nail me.’

2

  LIKE A HOUSE ON FIRE, adv. phr. (common).—Easily and rapidly. Cf., HOUSE, WINKING, ONE O’CLOCK, CAKE, BRICK, etc.

3

  TO FIRE A SHOT, verb. phr. (venery).—To emit. Fr., tirer un coup.

4

  TO FIRE A SLUG, verb. phr. (old).—To drink a dram. [GROSE, 1785.]

5

  TO FIRE IN THE AIR, verb. phr. (venery).—TO SHOOT IN THE BUSH (q.v.).

6

  TO FIRE A GUN, verb. phr. (old).—To introduce a story by head and shoulders; to lead up to a subject.—[GROSE, 1785.]

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  TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE, verb. phr. (venery).—To be CLAPPED (q.v.), or POXED (q.v.).

8

  TO SET THE THAMES ON FIRE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be clever, or the reverse; used in sarcasm.

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