TO TURN (or PUT) THE BEST SIDE TO LONDON, verb. phr. (common).—To show one’s best: cf. HUMPHREY’S TOPPERS.
1873. Cassell’s Magazine, Jan., p. 248, col. 2. This placing the goods in alternate rows of large and small was followed until the top of the box was gained, and then a row of very fine fish indeed crowned the whole. Venturing a remark upon this, the packer grinned as he returned, ‘Allays PUT THE BEST SIDE TO LONDON, gov’nor. Wouldn’t do to shove the big uns underneath. People wouldn’t b’lieve they was there, not if yer swore it. And when we tells ’em up for sale, we allays picks ’em up in double rows, takin’ care to keep the big fish uppermost.’
