ˈlow-down, n. slang (orig. U.S.).
[f. the adj. or adv.]
The fundamental, though not generally known, facts on (about) a person, situation, etc.; the ‘inside story’.
| 1915 San Francisco Call & Post 2 Dec. 12 (caption) Aw, give us the low down on them, Bill. 1920 Collier's 15 May 57/2 He calls me back, and in about twenty minutes I have got the low down on Monsieur Kane Halliday. 1924 Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith ix. 184 Listen, Ed, while I slip you the low-down. 1930 Punch 5 Feb. 144/1 Our own book, Percival and I have decided, is to be called the Low-down on Taxi-drivers. 1930 Ade Let. 19 Dec. (1973) 149 You certainly shattered some of my early idols, although I think I had figured out the low-down on most of them before I read your book. 1935 Auden & Isherwood Dog beneath Skin i. ii. 34 The Old Man sent for me before I left. Wants me to get the low-down on the Dripping merger. 1939 War Illustr. 18 Nov. p. ii/3, I have often smiled in recollecting this bit of ‘low down’ on the exile of Doorn—possibly for the first time here divulged. 1946 R. Campbell Talking Bronco 13 To have the low-down from their cross-Fates, Predicting tons of human phosphates Imported here in flesh and bone. 1957 N. Micklem Box & Puppets v. 102, I was occasionally able to do him some slight service in return by giving him ‘the low-down’ on theologians about whom he was required to compose orations. 1959 G. Jenkins Twist of Sand iv. 73 I'll give the low-down, charts, position, damage and all the rest of it. 1973 M. Mackintosh King & Two Queens x. 147 One of his minions will..give me the official low-down on Fisher. Possible police record, etc. |