A dated British slang phrase meaning to beat, thrash, or give someone a thorough going-over — either physically or verbally. If someone said they were going to give you Jessie, you knew a rough time was coming. The origin of the name Jessie in this context is disputed, but the phrase was common enough in Victorian and Edwardian Britain that it appeared in literature and music hall. Today it's more likely to crop up in historical fiction or nostalgic speech than in everyday conversation.
The foreman threatened to give the labourers Jessie if they didn't pick up the pace and finish the wall before nightfall.
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(slang, dated) To beat or thrash someone.
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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.
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