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What does 'a leg up' mean?

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Paul Barton, Special Agent

Paul Barton, Special Agent Report 9 Dec 2011 18:07

It's obviously a slang phrase that has fallen out of use. I came across it in an 1846 newspaper report about a somewhat disreputable female ancestor in trouble with the law....

'In answer to the charge, the prisoner said that the witness’s mother threatened to give her a “leg up” with the magistrate; and whenever she passed she called her foul names, although she never offered her the slightest offence.'

MargaretM

MargaretM Report 9 Dec 2011 18:17

This is the only meaning I know of the phrase:

Fig. a kind of help where someone provides a knee or crossed hand as a support for someone to place a foot on to get higher, as in mounting a horse or climbing over something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I gave her a leg up, and soon she was on her horse. Can I give you a leg up? Could I please have a leg up?

Researching:
Great grandmother Dorothy Bean nee Abbott (1858-1908)

Joy

Joy Report 9 Dec 2011 18:21

No idea, apart from helping someone mount a horse, etc :)

But I just had to say hello to joint tips board mascot, how very good to see you ;-)

kay

kay Report 9 Dec 2011 19:02

another definition is ...a position of advantage.

Kay

rootgatherer

rootgatherer Report 9 Dec 2011 20:05

I thought that it meant a "helping hand". So in the case above, I would have assumed that the mother was offering to assist the prisoner to the presence of the magistrate i.e. report her dodgy dealings or law breaking?

Researching:

Janet

Janet Report 10 Dec 2011 10:04

I agree with rootgatherer as I have always regarded it as helping someone who needs assistance or might be disadvantaged in someway.i.e. favour-jl

Researching:
Mellors of Fulstone- Haighs of Fulstone- Haighs of Horbury -Fowlers of Sheffield -Ashton/Acomb of Keighley-Broadheads of Mearhouse-Nixons of Bradfield- Hopwood of Dewsbury and Elland-Procter/Proctors of Malham