swifty

Noun

Tom Swifty (plural Tom Swifties)

1. A humorous phrase in which a supposed quotation is linked by a pun to the manner in which it is attributed.
   • Since then the Tom Swifty has trudged on, not exactly swiftly but with an impressive staying power. You can find Web sites that list as many as nine hundred of them. As the above examples suggest, Tom Swifties are virtually never funny, but they illustrate an adverb-centered sin against writing.2008, Ben Yagoda, When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It, Crown, →ISBN, page 50

Noun

swiftie (plural swifties)

1. (informal) Someone or something that moves, acts or thinks fast.
   • Nils T. Granlund proved a swiftie for the local boys by scorching up the town with his fast work. Arriving Monday night (21), he placed under contract 15 girls from ‘Kid From Spain’ and ‘42nd St.,’ the following day for his new Paradise cafe, New York.1932 November 29, “Granlund’s Swiftie”, in Variety, volume 108, number 12, New York, N. Y.: Variety, Inc., page 55
2. (Ireland, UK, informal) An alcoholic drink that is consumed quickly.
   • Near-synonym: swift half
3. (Australia, New Zealand, slang) A fraud or trick; an act of deception.
   • Somebody, ’tis said, pulled a swiftie on our newest Amateur in this zone—2ASE. A marauding gent from a country area, whilst visiting, switched a wire or two behind a panel. Nowt blew up, but nowt ’appened it seems. 2ASE took it in good part and soon discovered the joker’s work.1951 January, “New South Wales: Eastern Suburbs”, in Amateur Radio, volume 19, number 1, Melbourne: Wireless Institute of Australia, page 16

   Synonyms:

   fast one, deception, imposition, hype, deceit, dupery, fiddle, fetch, hocus-pocus, jugglery

See all 4 meanings of swiftie