| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Shave. | | |
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To shave a customer. Hotten says, when a master-draper sees anyone capable of being imposed upon enter his shop, he strokes his chin, to signify to his assistant that the customer may be shaved. | 1 |
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I shaved through; he was within a shave of a pluck. I just got through [my examination]; he was nearly rejected as not up to the mark. The allusion is to carpentry. | 2 |
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