noun, phrase General Slang

old bill

· noun, phrase · police

London slang for the police.

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Definitions

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The police, especially in London. Often just 'the Bill'. Origin is fuzzy — possibly the WWI cartoon character Old Bill, possibly the 'BL' on old Met warrant cards. ITV's The Bill ran for 26 years and locked it into the national vocabulary.

“Leg it — old bill's at the door.”
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old bill In A Sentence

Leg it — old bill's at the door.

Origin & Usage

Disputed; theories include Bruce Bairnsfather's WWI cartoon 'Old Bill' and the 'BL' letters on Metropolitan Police warrant cards.

Variants the BillOld Bill

People Also Ask

What does "old bill" mean?

Old bill is London slang for the police.

How do you use "old bill" in a sentence?

"Watch out, the old bill are parked round the corner."

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