Origin of "half-inched" - OT

From: Hans B Pufal <hansp_at_aconit.org>
Date: Sun Oct 27 11:10:00 2002

Doc Shipley wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Oct 2002, Philip Pemberton wrote:

> OK, I've read/heard that expression before, and I'm curious about it.
> Where did "half inch" come from? Does it refer to any specific mode of
> aquisition, like Human Engineering as opposed to rifling the desk?
> Please, do tell.

My explanation, subject to correction, would be cockney rhyming slang :

   half-inched = pinched = stolen

What I have never seen an explanation of is whether there is any
rational behind the rhymes used.

   -- hbp
Received on Sun Oct 27 2002 - 11:10:00 GMT