IN CHANCERY, adv. phr. (common).—‘To have or get your man in chancery’ is to get his head under your left arm so that you can FIB (q.v.) him with your right until he gets it out, or you GO TO GRASS (q.v.) together. Primarily pugilistic. Figuratively the expression = in a parlous case; in an awkward fix. The French have adopted the phrases mettre en chancellerie and coup de chancellerie which are almost literal translations.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 77.
| Lord St—w—rt’s a hero (as many suppose) | |
| And the Lady he woos is a rich and a rare one; | |
| His heart is in CHANCERY, every one knows, | |
| And so would his head be, if thou wert his fair one. |
1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 9. ‘Lord Brougham’s Handbook for Political Boxing.’ Getting the nob INTO CHANCERY is a fine achievement, I once got several nobs INTO CHANCERY: and I certainly gave several of them severe punishment. This CHANCERY manœuvre has been a capital thing for me.
1860. Chambers’s Journal, vol. XIII., p. 15. Marsden suffered him to approach within distance, dashed his outstretched arms away, and received his transatlantic head INTO CHANCERY.
1883. Daily News, 9 March, p. 3, col. 7. Thinking the man was a burglar he rode up to assist, and saw the constable holding Burtenshaw, and striking him. The constable had the prisoner IN CHANCERY.
