[Ads-l] Antedating of "fair shake"

[Steven Losie]

"Fair shake"

Found in the OED under "shake" (Definition II-2-i, dated to 1830)

[begin quote]

To our commercial friends we beg leave to say that to obtain a fair shake
of their patronage, is we will confess it, one of the first objects we have
in view.

[end quote]

Source: Louisiana Advertiser (New Orleans), 11 April 1820, p.2, col.2

Database: America’s Historical Newspapers (Readex / Newsbank)

[begin quote]

Our maxim, in every-day phrase is, give all callings "a fair shake"—equal
privileges and burdens, so far as the nature of the case will permit.

[end quote]

Source: Vermont Republican (Windsor, Vermont), 12 November 1821, p.3, col.1

Database: America’s Historical Newspapers (Readex / Newsbank)

Green’s Dictionary of Slang relates the phrase to the shaking of dice, but
some contemporaneous citations may possibly suggest the phrase originally
referred to a handshake:

[begin quote]

All this, when embellished with a few smiles, an honest shake of the hand,
and a few kind words, "full of sound," and meaning "nothing," cannot fail
to do all he anticipates.

[end quote]

Source: National Advocate (New York, NY), 10 October 1818, p.2, col.1

Database: Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers (Gale)

[being quote]

We understand that the clubs to the south terminate the exercises by a
grand race ball, at which all the beauty and fashion are invited; and a
Jocky Club dinner, at which the anxieties of the race, the eclat of the
winners, and the depressed spirits of the losers, are drowned in the
flowing bowl; and the parties separate with an honest shake of the hand,
and an invitation to a renewed contest the following year.

[end quote]

Source: Richmond (VA) Enquirer, 6 June 1823, p.1, col.6

Database: VirginiaChronicle.com

[begin quote]

If his Bourbon majesty ... contented himself with the fair honest shake of
the American hand, we have no doubt of his hospitable reception.

[end quote]

Source: Alexandria (VA) Gazette, 30 September 1823, p.2, col.1

Database: Newspapers.com

Even if true, the phrase was certainly connected with dice at some point:

[begin quote]

It is but proper that all politicians should have a fair shake of the dice,
especially as there is no knowing how long the game may last.

[end quote]

Source: Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), p.1, col.7

Date: 12 May 1849

Database: America's Historical Newspapers (Readex / Newsbank)

[begin quote]

The SENTINEL says that the money will undoubtedly be forthcoming, provided
there is to be a fair shake of the dice.

[end quote]

Source: Milwaukee Daily Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI), p.1,  col.5

Date: May 16, 1868

Database: Nineteenth Century Newspapers (Gale)

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