dance on nothing

English

Verb

dance on nothing (third-person singular simple present dances on nothing, present participle dancing on nothing, simple past and past participle danced on nothing)

1. (archaic, idiomatic) To be hanged.
   • 1849, A. H. Baker, “Hang the Black Rascal”, in The Prisoners' Friend:

     Oh! Do hang him-we have waited
     Many a day for such a chance;
     Let the hempen cord be baited;
     See how gracefully he'll dance
     Dance on nothing! oh, how funny! […]

   • 1831, David Erskine, James III […] :

     I would much rather be here, my lady, than dancing on nothing in the Hanging-wood, near Parkend

References

• “dance”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.