Phrase guide

come the raw prawn

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To attempt to deceive or impose upon (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, informal, intransitive

Examples

  • 1951, Dymphna Cusack, Florence James, 1957, Come In Spinner, page 306, “ [...] Coupla bastards come the raw prawn over me on the last lap up from Melbourne and I done me last bob at Swy.”

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From World War II military slang. Construction obscure; suggestions are: * From come (“act the part of”) + the + raw (“naive”) + prawn (“(slang) fool”) — thus, to attempt to deceive by feigning ignorance. * From come (“(putatively) perpetrate”) + the + raw prawn = something hard to swallow.