Bums rush

Posted by Lewis on February 21, 2003

In Reply to: Bums rush posted by Roger Fitch on February 15, 2003

: In Reply to: HELP I NEED these Meanings!! posted by Kirstie on December 18, 2002

: In the first part of the the last century, bailiffs who ejected people from their property, usually in processing a court order to repossess property or enforce eviction, were known as 'bums'...... so one could imagine that a 'bums rush' describes a fast and forceful tactic to eject these unfortunates.

Missing the obvious, I think. The common technique for removing a troublemaker from a public house was to grab them from behind by the collar and waistband of the trousers - the top of their 'bum'. The upward pull of both caused the malefactor to be light-footed and unable to drag themselves to stop being ejected. as it was usually done at speed - it was the bum's rush. also, the word 'bum' meaning a layabout or tramp (US "hobo") gives it a double-meaning because ejecting a scrounger was common practice esp. as they could not afford to pay for their drink.