cry carrots and turnips

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#1·3h ago

(slang, obsolete) To be taken through the streets on a cart while being whipped, as a punishment for certain crimes.

I had a mighty queer adventure in communion with that foul toad, Titus Oates, whom I afterwards rejoiced to see crying carrots and turnips, with all London looking on.

Origin: Probably referring to the vegetables which spectators would pelt at the person drawn on the cart. ''Green's Dictionary of Slang'' suggests that the term is of onomatopoeic origin. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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