Come [the old soldier, or any person or thing] over one, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To imitate; to overbear; to wheedle; to rule by an assumption of authority. Fr., essayer de monter un bateau à quelqu’un; or monter le coup or un battage.
1713. C. SHADWELL, Humours of the Army, Act iii. The Devil a Farthing he owes me—but however, I’ll PUT THE OLD SOLDIER UPON him.
1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xviii. Were it not that I think he has scarce the impudence to propose such a thing to succeed, curse me but I should think he was COMING THE OLD SOLDIER OVER ME, and keeping up his game.
1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 369 (ed. 1857). ‘Ah, by Jove, he has!’ replied Smangle. ‘Hear him COME THE FOUR CATS IN THE WHEELBARROW—four distinct cats, sir, I pledge you my honour. Now you know that’s infirnal clever!’
1860. H. H. DIXON (‘The Druid’), The Post and the Paddock.
| The only way his crime to cover, | |
| To hide his shame from children’s eye, | |
| Is not to try and COME THE LOVER, | |
| But stable-wards at once to fly. |
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, II., 253. ‘I had a letter this morning from my liberal and punctual employer, Thomas Potts, Esquire, of the Newcome Independent, who states, in language scarcely respectful, that Sir Barnes Newcome Newcome is trying TO COME THE RELIGIOUS DODGE, as Mr. Potts calls it.’
1877. W. BLACK, Green Pastures and Piccadilly, ch. i. ‘She’s rather serious, you know, and would like to COME THE MATERNAL OVER you.’
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 167. To hear him speak, one might imagine him as innocent as a lamb, and as green as a schoolboy, but just try TO COME THE HANKY-PANKY and PLAY THE OLD SOLDIER WITH him.
1877. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple. Permit me, if you and your two friends think of COMING what is vulgarly called THE OLD SOLDIER over me, to make you understand that you had better abandon the intention.
