Larry Dooley

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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After Larry Dooley, an otherwise forgotten early boxer, or possibly the better remembered Larry Foley. Popularised by cricket commentator Richie Benaud when describing aggressive batsmen.[1]

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Larry Dooley (uncountable)

  1. (Australia, slang) A beating, a hiding, a ticking-off; aggro.
    • 1972, Ken Clift, The Saga of a Sig: The Wartime Memories of Six Years Service in the Second A.I.F.[1], page 150:
      Meggsie and his crew gave the Japs some ‘Larry Dooley’ with a group of Brigade sigs who, galloping back and forth from the armourer′s position carried the bombs after they had been checked.
    • 2001, Alison Lester, The Snow Pony[2], page 128:
      She could hear her now, using her grannie′s voice, “You lose ninety per cent of your body heat through your head, young lady, so get that hat on before I give you Larry Dooley.”
  2. (Australia, slang, colloquial, sports or other competitive activity) Extra effort; extra impetus; enthusiastic aggression.
    As they came down the home straight, the jockey gave his horse Larry Dooley.
    • 2006, Andrew Symonds, Steven Gray, Roy: Going for Broke, page 135:
      As Ian Harvey came in, my carefully considered words of advice were something like: ‘Have a look, get settled and then let′s give ′em a bit of Larry Dooley!’
  3. (Australia, slang) Pain, gyp.
    • 1978, Hal Porter, Mary Lord, Hal Porter, Portable Australian Authors, published 1980, page 316:
      “Don't be euphemistic. I′m getting drunk. I intend to get drunker. My sciatica′s giving me Larry Dooley. From now on I′ll pour my own, thank you very much.″
    • 1988, Alexandra Towle, Mothers: A Celebration in Prose, Poetry, and Photographs of Mothers and Motherhood[3], page 178:
      And, taking off her shoes new filmed with the dust of roads and adventure, “My corn is giving me Larry Dooley!”

Usage notes

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In the sporting sense, one may give, or be exhorted to give, a horse or a car Larry Dooley to speed it up in a race.

Derived terms

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ 2004 September 10, Richie Benaud, The Guardian.