subs. (common).—1. An attempt, or SHY (q.v.), at anything; a venture in earnest; a spree; a state of expectancy (as in betting). Hence gambling.
1883. Echo, 26 Feb., p. 4, col. 2. I have no stable tip, but I fancy the animal named will at any rate afford backers a FLUTTER for their money.
1889. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 8 Feb. Of course he told her he only went in for a little FLUTTER occasionally.
1890. The Saturday Review, 1 Feb., p. 134, col. 1. They find out the addresses of people whom they see at the races—people whom they suspect to be fond of a FLUTTER, and then an invitation is sent to a little soirée intime.
1887. W. E. HENLEY, Culture in the Slums, iii.
| I likes a merry little FLUTTER, | |
| I keeps a Dado on the sly, | |
| In fact my form’s the blooming Utter. |
2. (common).—The act of spinning a coin.
3. (venery).—Connection defloration. TO HAVE HAD A FLUTTER = (1) TO HAVE BEEN THERE (cf, GREENS); and (2) to have lost one’s maidenhead.
Verb. (common).—1. To spin a coin (for drinks); also to gamble.
2. (common).—To go in for a bout of pleasure.
TO FLUTTER THE RIBBONS, verb. phr. (common).—To drive.
1864. B. HEMYNG, Eton School Days, chap. 1, p. 11. As I was going to be saying, I used to FLUTTER THE RIBANDS of the London Croydon and South Coast coach.
[FLUTTER, if not a word of all-work, is a word with plenty to do. Thus, TO HAVE (or DO) A FLUTTER = to have a LOOK IN (q.v.), to go on the spree, and (of both sexes) to have carnal connection; TO BE ON THE FLUTTER = to be on the spree, and also (venery) to be ALL THERE (q.v.) or ON THE SPOT (q.v.); TO FLUTTER A JUDY = both to pursue and to possess a girl; TO FLUTTER A BROWN = to spin a coin; TO FLUTTER (or FRET) ONE’S KIDNEYS = to agitate, to exasperate; TO FLUTTER A SKIRT = to walk the streets; and so forth.]
