1869. S. L. Clemens, Innocents at Home, p. 21. You’re most too many for me, you know. When you get in with your left I hunt grass every time.
To cut one’s own grass. verb. phr. (thieves’).—To earn one’s own living.
1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 242. ‘Cut her own grass! Good gracious! what is that!’ I asked. ‘Why, purvide her own chump—earn her own living,’ the old man replied.
To be sent to grass. verb. phr. (University).—To be rusticated; to receive a travelling scholarship (q.v.).
1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. And was very near rustication [at Cambridge] merely for kicking up a row after a beakering party. ‘Soho, Jack!’ briskly rejoined another, ‘almost presented with a travelling fellowship? very nigh being sent to grass, hey?’
Go to grass! phr. (common).—Be off! You be hanged! Go to hell!
1848. Durivage, Stray Subjects, p. 95. A gentleman who was swimming about, upon being refused, declared that he might go to grass with his old canoe, for he didn’t think it would be much of a shower, anyhow.
1865. Bacon, Handbook of America, p. 363. Go to grass! be off! get out!
To let the grass grow under one’s feet, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To proceed or work leisurely. Fr., limer.
To take Nebuchadnezzar out to grass, subs. phr. (venery).—To take a man. [Nebuchadnezzar = penis.] For synonyms, see Greens.