Dictionary

come the raw prawn en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From World War II military slang. Construction obscure; suggestions are: * From come (“act the part of”) + the + raw (“naive”) + prawn (“(slang) fool”) — thus, to attempt to deceive by feigning ignorance. * From come (“(putatively) perpetrate”) + the + raw prawn = something hard to swallow.

Meanings

1. (Australia, informal, intransitive) To attempt to deceive or impose upon (someone).
   • “That′s bullshit Norbert. I brought you in to get the straight dope direct from your mate the General. So don′t come the raw prawn with me, matey.” 2003, Glen Conrad, Walk a Mile in My Shoes, page 300:
   • "Don't come the raw prawn! I only gave her a bit of a smack on the chops, we didn't get around to the fair dinkum article! 1968, Barrie Humphries, The wonderful World of Barry McKenzie, page 12:
   • — I do not suggest that the Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories, Senator Faulkner, is attempting to come the raw prawn with the Senate on these particular measures, but I do feel that he is trying to use these in an attempt to suggest to the Senate that this is an unintended consequence of the November decision. 1995, Australia. Parliament. Senate, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: Senate:
   • Come on, Dimitri, don't come the raw prawn love! Four quid's the price. 1979, Lance Peters, The Dirty Half-Mile, page 155:
   • 1951, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James, 1957, Come In Spinner, page 306, “ […] Coupla bastards come the raw prawn over me on the last lap up from Melbourne and I done me last bob at Swy.”
   • Until this dag in a shiny new uniform comes the raw prawn and says I didn′t salute him with proper respect. 2007, Peter Yeldham, Barbed Wire and Roses, unnumbered page:

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