ENGLISH
REFERENCE

coat and badge

idiom
Slang Cockney rhyming slang · East London
Meaning

cadge


Origin

Sometimes known as "Doggett's" as watermen who possessed the Doggett Coat and Badge could charge higher fares than those without.

Examples
SIMPLE

He tries to coat and badge a free meal from his friends.

CONTEXTUAL

Instead of buying his own supplies, he always manages to coat and badge whatever he needs from the other artists in the studio.

COMPLEX

The old traveler had learned how to coat and badge a warm bed and a hot soup from almost any household he encountered during his long journey across the countryside.

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Last updated June 7, 2026