tradesies

But such tricks are inconsequential alongside the boundless and varied delights of the lunch hour. These range from the simple fun of “doing tradesies” (you give me your brown paper bag lunch, I’ll give you mine, we’ll both be surprised), to the more grownup game of business lunch dates with men which, Mrs. Brown crows, are “sex at high noon!”

1964 August 28, Jane Howard, “Secretary’s Guide to Sex at High Noon: Sex and the Office by Helen Gurley Brown (Bernard Geis Associates) $4.95”, in Life, page 8

Then quickly, not giving him a chance to answer, she leavened it, using the language of long-past childhood games. “You mean for keeps. No backsies. No tradesies. No do-overs.”

2005, Lynne Kaufman, Taking Flight, MIRA, →ISBN, page 191

At first, I tried to trade for someone more normal, but Mr. Martins said, “No tradesies! In real life, you’ve got to work with who you’re stuck with. So suck it up and get to work!”

2011, Chris McMahen, Box of Shocks, Orca Book Publishers, →ISBN, page 72

“Tradesies?” Macy smiled and held up her small bottle of strawberry milk, pointing it at EJ’s juice box. “Yeah, totally!” EJ smiled, and the girls swapped drinks.

2013, Annie Tipton, Diary of a Real Payne: True Story, Barbour Publishing, →ISBN

“Will you please rub my shoulders? My neck is killing me from carrying around that stupid bag. I'll rub yours, too, if you want.” Emerson smiled. “Of course. And yes, tradesies.”

2020, LJT, Bitter Herbs, ANTIBOOKCLUB, →ISBN