nab the rust

present singular third person nabs the rust · participle present nabbing the rust · participle past nabbed the rust · past nabbed the rust

1. UKobsoleteslangTo take offense; to become upset.

   Spurstow discovered it, of course, and nabbed the rust. He went off to Rye, ran Ottershaw to earth in the Ship, and asked him what the devil he meant by it.

   1968, Georgette Heyer, The Unknown Ajax, page 155

   1 more example

   […] did not choose to comply with her wishes. Upon which Mrs. Basset, in the language of the Old Bailey, nabbed the rust; insisted upon some liquor, would not quit the house without it, and began to blow up the hostess and blast the rose.

   1807, The Port Folio, page 313