The 1909 slang collection Passing English of the Victorian Era defines the phrase to introduce shoemaker to tailor this way: “Evasive metaphor for fundamental kicking.” In other words, to introduce a shoemaker to a tailor means to give someone a swift kick in the pants. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Victorian Slang “Introduce Shoemaker to Tailor” Means a Kick in the Pants”
Here’s another entry in that 1909 Dictionary of Victorian Slang Grant.
See if you can guess what it means.
The entry is, introduce shoemaker to tailor.
Can you imagine what that means?
Introduce shoemaker to tailor?
Mm—
Not sure.
What would that mean?
I don’t know.
I don’t know what that means.
Well, what I love about it is that the definition of it is great, too.
It’s evasive metaphor for fundamental kicking.
Introduce shoemaker to Taylor.
Oh, kick somebody in the pants.
Yes, fundamental kicking.
Fundament in the fundaments.
Yes, you better behave or I’m going to introduce shoemaker to Taylor.
Butt to buns.
Or boot to buns.
Yeah, boot to buns.
Boot to butt.
