subs. phr. (common).—Generic for anything bad: e.g., a spurious note, base coin, whore, welsher, a horse intended to be PULLED (q.v.), and so forth.
1889. The Sporting Times, June 29.
| Isabel and Maudie knew the Turf and all its arts— | |
| They had often blewed a dollar on a WRONG ’UN. |
1896. FARJEON, The Betrayal of John Fordham, iv. 299. ‘All wery true, guv’nor, wus luck—but it don’t make black white, ’cause I’m a WRONG ’UN.’
1898. MARSHALL, Pomes from Pink ’Un [Advt. facing front inside cover]. Do not invest money … on Stiff ’uns, WRONG ’UNS or Dead ’uns.
1902. Daily Telegraph, 11 Feb., 10. 7. Do you consider that all possible precautions are taken against welshers?—Yes. A welsher can be had up for fraud, and anyone who is known as a WRONG ONE is excluded from the racecourse.
