A dated and mildly euphemistic slang phrase for masturbation, associated particularly with LGBTQ+ vernacular from earlier decades. Like most such idioms, it relies on a playful metaphor to describe a private act without stating it directly. While not particularly shocking by modern standards, the phrase is old enough to feel quaint rather than edgy, sitting in the same territory as 'choking the chicken' and other colorful historical euphemisms.
The vintage pulp novel was full of coded language like 'beat the dummy' that went right over the censors' heads.
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(LGBTQ, slang, dated) to masturbate.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.