Talk:two upon ten
Latest comment: 3 years ago by Equinox in topic A punning extension: two pound ten
A punning extension: two pound ten[edit]
John Camden Hotten's Slang Dictionary (1873) notes:
- Two upon ten, or two pun' ten, an expression used by assistants to each other, in shops, when a customer of suspected honesty makes his appearance. The phrase refers to “two eyes upon ten fingers,” shortened as a money term to two pun' ten. When a supposed thief is present, one shopman asks the other if that two pun' [pound] ten matter was ever settled. The man knows at once what is meant, and keeps a careful watch upon the person being served. If it is not convenient to speak, a piece of paper is handed to the same assistant, bearing the, to him, very significant amount of £2:10:0.