English Explanatory Dictionary

come the raw prawn

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To attempt to deceive or impose upon (someone).

Pronunciation

EN-AU ck1 come the raw prawn.ogg

Word forms

come the raw prawn comes the raw prawn coming the raw prawn came the raw prawn

Etymology

From World War II military slang. Construction obscure; suggestions are: * From come (“act the part of”) + the + raw (“naive”) + prawn (“(slang) fool”) — thus, to attempt to deceive by feigning ignorance. * From come (“(putatively) perpetrate”) + the + raw prawn = something hard to swallow.

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