English Explanatory Dictionary

down the banks

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A severe criticism, scolding, reprimand, or punishment.
prep_phrase
  1. In prison.

Pronunciation

/daʊn d̪ə bæŋks/ En-au-down the banks.ogg

Word forms

down the banks down-the-banks

Etymology

Unknown. Probably of Irish origin. five conjectural etymologies * Notes & Queries, 3rd series, volume 1 (8 March 1862), page 189 posits a connection with "down the khud", supposedly used of a person falling down a precipice in the Himalayas. * Cassell's Dictionary of Slang (1998) suggests falling off the raised bank of a bog into muddy water. * Bernard Share (Slanguage, 1997) suggests a link to "The Banks of my own Lovely Lee", a Cork anthem nicknamed "De Banks". See also: * Laurence Urdang, Walter W. Hunsinger, Nancy LaRoche, Picturesque expressions: a thematic dictionary (1985, →ISBN, page 571 * The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (2006, →ISBN, volume 1 A–I, page 646

Synonyms

bollocking dressing down handbagging tongue lashing animadversion criticism criticization critique dressing-down slam stricture berating browbeating chiding chockling correption dirdum down the banks going over jawing lecture objurgation rixation sermon scolding throughgoing chew someone out eat the head off someone
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