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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Expression “Fork it Over” Come From and What Does the Phrase “Hand it Over” Mean?

Where Did the Expression “Fork it Over” Come From and What Does the Phrase “Hand it Over” Mean?

March 5, 2020 by Karen Hill

The expression “fork it over” has a connotation of urgency to it and is often used dramatically during a criminal holdup.

In fact, the expression does have origins in a long-forgotten underworld.

Of course, the phrase can also be employed with humor when asking for a financial payment for goods or services rendered or for the repayment of a loan.

The “fork” in question is a reference to “fingers,” which were the original dinner forks, especially for thieves and other low-lifes.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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