3 ms·
Surely "faced the rap" comes from a rap sheet, the Record of Arrests and Prosecutions, aka the documents inside the manilla folder you see in movies, in the sce
by karaterobot 4y ago
Surely "faced the rap" comes from a rap sheet, the Record of Arrests and Prosecutions, aka the documents inside the manilla folder you see in movies, in the scene where the detective whistles and says "looks like our guy's been busy..."
- zerocrates 4y agoI bet "record of arrests and prosecutions" is a false etymology for "rap sheet." OED attests "rap" in this sense of punishment back to the 1860s at least, and "face the rap," "beat the rap," etc., to the early 1900s. "Rap sheet," the 50s.
- karaterobot 4y agoI mean it might be. It does feel a bit like "port out, starboard home" or "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden". Wikipedia uses it, but without citation.