subs. (American).—1. In pl., see quot. and KICKS.
1870. JUDD, Margaret, i. The boys dressed in ‘TONGS,’ a name for pantaloons or over-alls that had come into use.
2. (dentists’ and medical).—In pl. = forceps: dental or midwifery.
PAIR OF TONGS, subs. phr. (common).—A lanky person; a LAMP-POST (q.v.): also TONGS! (a sarcastic address).
NOT TO BE TOUCHED WITHOUT A PAIR OF TONGS, phr. (common).—A simile of disgust: also EXCEPT AT THE END OF A BARGE-POLE.
1668. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, The Visions of Quevedo (1678), 22. Your Beauties can never want Gallants to lay their Appetites … Whereas NO BODY WILL TOUCH the Ill-favour’d WITHOUT A PAIR OF TONGS.
HAMMER AND TONGS. See ante, s.v. HAMMER.
