www.alphadictionary.com

I was watching a Harold Lloyd movie last night and heard (or, rather saw, as it was a silent movie, Dr. Jack) this term: four flusher. I was vaguely familiar with the word and paid no attention when people would use "floor" flusher. It refers to someone who boasts or brags without the goods to back it up. It comes from poker as you need five cards to make a flush.

A four flusher is a con man. Probably from the fact that a flush in poker is five cards of the same suit. Thus, when a player has four cards of the same suit on the table before him and bets strongly to bluff because his other card doesn't match, that's a four flusher.

A four flusher is a con man. Probably from the fact that a flush in poker is five cards of the same suit. Thus, when a player has four cards of the same suit on the table before him and bets strongly to bluff because his other card doesn't match, that's a four flusher.

The darty bagger!

M.B.

I apologise in advance for the euphemism, but I must admit I would not have guessed this one - to me the obvious definition would have been the resulting situation after shedding a particularly heavy load. I don't gamble though.

Call_copse, too funny, i gotta say that you have a very interesting sense of humor.

M.Loves-to-laugh Bailey

Well, the poker illustration is more logical and nicer than the toilet derivation.

Well, the poker illustration is more logical and nicer than the toilet derivation.

My father would have disagreed his humor of choice was all the potty sort. But i agree, the mental video, not my favorite, of flushing four times brings back memories of being a janitor in a downtown office building.

M. A-one-flusher Bailey

It is with great trepidation that I contradict my many betters, but as it is used in gambling a four-flusher is a person who has four cards of the same suit, with the fifth concealed in his (or her) hand until eventually it's "read 'em & weep" time.

The player with the four same-suit showing, (but an off-suit still concealed in his hand) who bets heavily after the last card is dealt is merely trying to bluff when holding a four flush hoping that doing so will either (a) convince the remaining players that he has his flush--causing them to fold; or that the odds of him having his flush appear to be certain enough that it's not worth the risk of losing a substantial amount on the turning of one card.

In neither case is the term "four-flusher" considered by the other players to be pejorative; the reaction from the other players is more likely "praising with faint damnation", as it takes more than just a small amount of steely nerves, gravitas and guts.

Outside the card-game arena, a four-flusher is looked on with much greater approbation, as it refers to making a false claim--usually in the business sector--by a swindler, con-man; or someone who preys on the ignorant and/or gullible.

It has also been known to pay most of a starving graduate student's academic tuition and books.

Sounds like you've been there, done that!

I've always heard the phrase as "damning with faint praise", but i live an insular life.



M.whatever Bailey

David, didn't you mean DISapprobation, meaning disapproval?

David, didn't you mean DISapprobation, meaning disapproval?

I suspect not, and that would be why he reversed the praise phrase, too.

PL:

Of course I did. The fact that I wrote that entry on the same day I had to call 9-1-1 for an ambulance to take me to the ER because of presenting the symptoms of controlled-substance (prescribed) medication withdrawal could have something to do with it.

(I simply got immersed in something; failed to get the prescription refilled before I took the last pill--on a Friday when the doctor's office was closed. And thereby learned a lesson one just can't get out of a book.)

Mac

Well, it did make for an exciting day...