subs. (old).—An idle story; a sham; a ROBIN-HOOD TALE (q.v.). A duplication of FLAM (q.v.).
1589. Pappe with an Hatchet (ed. 1844), p. 39. Trusse vp thy packet of FLIM FLAMS, and roage to some countrey Faire, or read it among boyes in the belfrie.
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, ‘A Kicksey Winsey.’
| They with a courtly trick or a FLIM-FLAM, | |
| Do nod at me, whilst I the noddy am. |
1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, bk. XVIII., ch. xii. I thought thou had’st been a lad of higher mettle than to give way to a parcel of maidenish tricks. I tell thee ’tis all FLIM-FLAM.
1780. HANNAH COWLEY, The Belle’s Stratagem, iii., 1. ‘Look, you, Mr. Curate, don’t think to come over me with your FLIM-FLAMS, for a better man than ever trod in your shoes is coming over-sea to marry me.’
1805. DISRAELI, FLIM-FLAMS; or the Life and Errors of my Uncle, and the Amours of my Aunt [Title].
1825. LAMB, Munden (in London Magazine), Feb. I wonder you can put such FLIM-FLAMS upon us, sir.
Adj. (old).—Idle; worthless.
1589. NASHE, Martin’s Months Minde in wks. Vol. I., p. 174. But to leaue thy FLIM FLAM tales, and loytering lies.
1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Filastroccola, FLIM-FLAM tales, old wiues tales as they tell when they spinne, a tale without rime or reason, or head or foote.
1576. T. NEWTON, tr. Lemnius’s The Touchstone of Complexions p. 138. Reporting a FLYMFLAM tale of Robinhoode.
1750. OZELL, Rabelais, vol. V., p. 247. Glibly swallow down every FLIM-FLAM story that’s told them.
1853. BULWER-LYTTON, My Novel, bk. X., ch. xix. I wish you’d mind the child—it is crumpling up and playing almighty smash with that FLIM-FLAM book, which cost me one pound one.
