subs. (colloquial).—A fashionable name for any large social gathering.
1854. WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, ch. xiii. We fear he had rather go to a CRUSH at Lady Dinadam’s than sup with Boz.
1872. Pall Mall Gazette, 23 June. It would possibly be found that one week of political reunions, concerts, balls, and CRUSHES would be as disastrous in its effects as two months of absinthe drinking.
1890. H. D. TRAILL, Saturday Songs, ‘Tea Without Toast,’ p. 100.
| It appeared to us a feast wouldn’t help the cause the least, | |
| And we settled that to give a ‘CRUSH’ at nine | |
| Would be greatly more effectual, and far more intellectual, | |
| Than at six o’clock to, greatly daring, dine. |
TO CRUSH DOWN SIDES, verbal phr. (Northern).—To keep tryst; also to run to a place of safety.
TO CRUSH or BURST A POT, CUP, or BOTTLE, phr. (old).—To drink (generally in company). See CRACK A BOTTLE. [From the Italian crosciare = to decant.] Shakespeare, in The Taming of the Shrew, induction, Sc. 1, uses BURST in a similar sense to CRACK and CRUSH.
1592. GREENE, The Defence of Conny-catching, in Works, xi., 43. If euer I brought my Conny but to CRUSH A POTTE OF ALE with mee.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, Act i., Sc. 2. And if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray, come and CRUSH A CUP of wine.
1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. vit. I CRUSHED A QUART with that jolly boy Jenkin.
