subs. (common).—One’s particular pursuits, PITCH (q.v.), or fancy. Hence in a good (or bad) SWIM = lucky (or unlucky).
1883. GREENWOOD, In Strange Company (2nd ed.), 84. Amongst themselves they are ‘skinners,’ ‘knock-outs,’ and ‘odd-trick men,’ and they work together in what the elegant language of the profession calls a ‘SWIM.’
1900. Free Lance, 6 Oct., 16. 1. Lady Dashout. ‘The pity of it is that we can’t always keep the SWIM to ourselves. The rich third-raters will dive in, make the waters muddy, and copy our frocks. I should like to make my own SWIM!’
IN THE SWIM, phr. (common).—Participant in the times. Hence (2) = in the ‘inner circle’ or THE KNOW (q.v.); (3) = associated in any undertaking; and spec. (4) = a long time out of the hands of the police (thieves’). Fr. dans le mouvement (or le train).
1869. Macmillan’s Magazine, Nov., 70. 2. A man is said to be ‘IN THE SWIM’ when any piece of good fortune has happened, or seems likely to happen, to him. To have rowed one’s College-boat to the head of the river,—to have received a legacy,—to have made a good book on the Derby,—are any of them sufficient to have put one ‘IN THE SWIM.’ The metaphor is piscatorial, ‘SWIM’ being the term applied by Thames fishermen to those sections of the river which are especially frequented by fish. The angler who casts his bait into these may depend upon sport, whereas his neighbour at a little distance may not have a nibble, being ‘OUT OF THE SWIM.’
1874. BEETON, The Siliad, 30.
| ‘He’s IN THE SWIM,’ another swift replies; | |
| ‘Hot wather, thin, he loiks,’ Obroian cries. |
1889. Harper’s Magazine, lxxviii. Jan., 313. The congratulatory paragraph in the local newspaper that his neighborhood is ‘getting INTO THE SWIM of the real-estate movement, and that old Rip Van Winkle is to be sent about his business.’
1897. OUIDA, The Massarenes, 24. Never remind me of anything I said. I can’t endure it: I believe you want to get IN THE SWIM.
1900. Free Lance, 6 Oct., 16. 1. Hon. Mrs. Worldley. ‘Sounds distinctly appetising. Well, wherever I go, I want to be IN THE SWIM.’
TO SWIM IN GOLDEN GREASE (OIL, LARD, etc.), verb. phr. (old).—To ‘roll’ in bribes: see GREASE.
1605. JONSON, Volpone, or the Fox, i. 1. When you do come to SWIM IN GOLDEN LARD.
TO MAKE A MAN SWIM FOR IT, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To cheat a pal out of his share of booty.
HOW WE APPLES SWIM, QUOTH THE HORSE-TURD (RAY). See APPLES.
