spank the plank
v. phr.— «The rock musicians’ slang for it is “spanking the plank”: that is, playing the guitar, usually energetically and with as much abandon and hairwaving as required.» —“Going against the grain” by Michael Pollitt Guardian (United Kingdom) Oct. 26, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Oofless is an antiquated bit of British slang that describes someone temporarily short on cash. It’s from ooftisch, a Yiddish-derived term for “cash placed on the table,” from German auf Tisch. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
Carpe diem! A new book reveals the surprisingly unfamiliar stories behind familiar quotations. Also: Rock climbers have gumbies, and surfers have kooks. What do those words say about beginners who have more confidence than experience? Plus, if...