Come the raw prawn

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Meaning

Attempt to deceive, impose upon or treat someone unfairly. Informal and confrontational, often used in a warning not to try a trick. Regional use: Australia.

Origin

Raw prawn appears in Australian slang by 1940 and the verbal phrase is documented from 1942. The image probably presents the attempted trick as something unpalatable or hard to swallow, but the National Dictionary Centre does not identify a conclusive source event. It is therefore safer to retain the food metaphor without inventing a more specific story.

Variants

  • Don't come the raw prawn
  • Come the raw prawn with someone
  • Try the raw-prawn act

Usage Examples

  • Do not come the raw prawn with me; I saw who changed the figures.
  • The dealer tried to come the raw prawn, but Priya had checked the car's history.

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