PHRASES (various).—TO DRAW A BEAD = to attack an opponent by speech or otherwise: from backwoods parlance; TO RAISE A BEAD = to bring to the point, to ensure success: from brandy, rum, or other liquors, which will not ‘raise a bead,’ unless of the proper strength; TO BID A BEAD = to offer prayer; BEADS-BIDDING = prayer; TO SAY (TELL, or COUNT) ONE’S BEADS = to say prayers; TO PRAY WITHOUT ONE’S BEADS = to be out of one’s reckoning.
1841. CATLIN, North American Indians (1844), I., x., 77. I made several attempts to get near enough TO DRAW A BEAD upon one of them.
1846. New York Tribune, Letter from Ohio. The result was, if the convention had been then held, the party wouldn’t have been able TO RAISE A BEAD.
1884. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, vii. There was the old man down the path apiece just DRAWING A BEAD on a bird with his gun.
1889. Albany Journal, 6 Aug. If Jake’s not careful I’ll DRAW A BEAD ON HIM. Very little more will make me go for him tooth and nail.
