Fast and loose — Fast Fast, a. [Compar. {Faster}; superl. {Fastest}.] [OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. f[ae]st; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Icel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Fast and loose — Loose Loose (l[=oo]s), a. [Compar. {Looser} (l[=oo]s [ e]r); superl. {Loosest}.] [OE. loos, lous, laus, Icel. lauss; akin to OD. loos, D. los, AS. le[ a]s false, deceitful, G. los, loose, Dan. & Sw. l[ o]s, Goth. laus, and E. lose. [root]127. See … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
fast and loose — described as a cheating game played with a stick and a belt or string, so arranged that a spectator would think he could make the latter fast by placing a stick through its intricate folds, whereas the operator could detach it at once. [James O.… … Etymology dictionary
fast-and-loose — fastˈ and looseˈ noun A cheating game practised at fairs, the dupe being invited to put a stick in the loop of a coiled belt so that it cannot be pulled away (also called prick the garter) • • • Main Entry: ↑fast … Useful english dictionary
fast and loose — index variable Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
fast and loose — adverb : recklessly, irresponsibly : in a craftily deceitful way formerly used in the phrase to play at fast and loose; now usually used in the phrase to play fast and loose playing fast and loose with concepts of right and wrong to justify our… … Useful english dictionary
fast and loose — adverb Date: 1580 1. in a reckless or irresponsible manner < played fast and loose with the public purse strings Paul Stuewe > 2. in a craftily deceitful way < manipulated evidence…and played fast and loose with the truth C. V. Woodward > … New Collegiate Dictionary
fast and loose — Irresponsible; deceitful. ► “ In Asia, there is the potentially explosive combination of investmentbank salesmen from the financial capitals of the West playing fast and loose and their inexperienced Asian counterparts. The financial fire they… … American business jargon
Fast and Loose (con game) — Fast and Loose is a cheating game played at fairs by sharpers. Also known as Pricking the Garter (Renaissance), The Strap (1930 con man argot), and The Old Army Game (World War II). In older periods, the leather or cloth webbing garters that men… … Wikipedia
Fast and loose pulleys — Fast Fast, a. [Compar. {Faster}; superl. {Fastest}.] [OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. f[ae]st; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Icel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
