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B Flats . bugs.—_Compare_ F SHARPS.
B. K. S. Military officers in _mufti_, when out on a spree, and not . wishing their profession to be known, speak of their barracks as the B. K. S.
B.N.C. . for Brasenose, initials of Brazen Nose College. In spite of the nose over the gate the probability is the real name was Brasinium. It is still famous for its beer.—_University._
Babes . the lowest order of KNOCK-OUTS (which _see_), who are prevailed upon not to give opposing biddings at auctions, in consideration of their receiving a small sum (from one shilling to half-a-crown), and a certain quantity of beer. They can, however, even after this agreement, be secured on the other side for a little longer price. There is no honour among thieves—at all events not among auction thieves—nowadays.
Back . to support by means of money, on the turf or otherwise.—_See_ LAY.
Back . “to get one’s BACK UP,” to annoy or enrage. Probably from the action of a cat when preparing to give battle to an enemy.
Back Jump . a back window.—_Prison term._
Back Out . to retreat from a difficulty; reverse of GO AHEAD. Metaphor borrowed from the stables.
Back Slang It . to go out the back way. Equivalent to “Sling your hook out of the back-door,” _i.e._, get away quickly.
Back-end . that portion of the year which commences with October. This phrase is peculiar to the turf, and has its origin in the fact that October was actually, and is now nearly, the finishing portion of the racing season. Towards BACK-END the punters and “little men” generally begin to look forward with anxiety to their winter prospects, and “going for the gloves” is not only a frequent phrase, but a frequently recurring practice.
Back-Hander . a blow on the face with the back of the hand, a back-handed tip. Also a drink out of turn, as when a greedy person delays the decanter to get a second glass. Anything done slyly or secretly is said to be done in a back-handed manner.
Backer . one who places his money on a particular man or animal; a supporter of one side in a contest. The great body of betting men is divided into BOOKMAKERS and BACKERS.
Backslums . the byeways and disreputable portions of a town.
Bacon . the body, “to save one’s BACON,” to escape.
Bad . “to go to the bad,” to deteriorate in character, to be ruined. _Virgil_ has an almost similar phrase, _in pejus ruere_, which means, by the way, to go to the worse.
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