Query: "ding-ding" in cant or slang

[Jonathan Lighter]

Erin's suggestion sounds plausible to me.

  Either that or the guy was picking pockets over the telephone - a truly remarkable talent.

  JL

Erin McKean <editor at VERBATIMMAG.COM> wrote:
  ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Erin McKean
Subject: Re: Query: "ding-ding" in cant or slang
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cohen, Gerald Leonard wrote:
> Barry Popik once drew an underworld lingo item to the attention of ads-l:
> (Los Angeles Times, Nov. 8, 1931, pp. K3, 16). The example under "wire"
> contains a term I can find in no dictionary with a relevant meaning, and I'm at a loss as to what it does mean. Would anyone be able to help?
>
> The example is: "That guy is one of the best wires that ever worked a ding ding in this town."
>
> Btw, "wire" = the pickpocket who actually puts his/her hand in the pocket of the victim to extract the wallet or purse (vs. the "stall," who distracts the victim or promptly receives the stolen goods).
>
My guess would be "streetcar," but this may just be because of too much
time spent with the under-five set, as opposed to the criminal element.

-Erin



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com