take (a man) down

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

Australian sporting slang.


1) Toinduce a man to bet, knowing that he must lose.

2) To advisea man to bet, and then to «arrange» with an accomplice (ajockey, e.g.) for the bet to be lost. (3) To prove superiorto a man in a game of skill.

1895. `The Argus,' Dec. 5, p. 5, col. 2:

«It appeared that [the plaintiff] had a particular fancy for a[certain] horse, and in an evil hour induced [the defendant] tolay him a wager about this animal at the long odds of twoshillings to threepence. When the horse had rompedtriumphantly home and [the plaintiff] went to collect his twoshillings [the defendant] accused him of having `taken himdown,' stigmatised him as a thief and a robber, and furtherremarked that [the plaintiff] had the telegram announcing theresult of the race in his pocket when the wager was made, andin short refused to give [the plaintiff] anything but a blackeye.»

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