holler copper

present singular third person hollers copper · participle present hollering copper · participle past hollered copper · past hollered copper

1. USintransitiveslangTo draw attention to something about to happen or already in progress in the hope of preventing it from proceeding.

   It's alright to holler copper on a guy—but this guy was her friend.

   1927, Drew Ryan, Angel's Flight, New York: Boni and Silverlight, page 21

   2 more examples

   “I will never forgive myself if I am compelled to holler copper on anybody whatsoever,” Fatso says, “but,” he says, “of course I will do so as a last resort to prevent Gregorio from marrying Betty Lou. ...”

   1938 December, Damon Runyon, “Palm Beach Santa Claus”, in Collier’s, published 1924, pages 9–10

   The first thing to remember is that there has not been a smidgen of proof that Graziano committed any offense save a technical violation of the commission's Rule 64, which requires a boxer to holler copper when any sinister influence makes a pass at him.

   1947 July 17, Red Smith, “They Trut Him Good”, in New York Herald Tribune