work the oracle

present singular third person works the oracle · participle present working the oracle · participle past worked the oracle · past worked the oracle

1. UKslanggovernmentTo fabricate a suspect's verbal statement.

   Holdaway reports that procedural rules are often considered irrelevant by the British police as they go about their daily duties. The occupational culture of the British police condones the use of “verbals” or “working the oracle.”

   2006, Thomas Barker, Police Ethics: Crisis in Law Enforcement, page 90

2. datedinformalTo manipulate circumstances to one's personal advantage.

   It is his glowing eye and ingenuous smile that works the oracle, I fancy.

   1910, Walter Arnold Mursell, Two on a Tour

   3 more examples

   You've thought there were some high souls that didn't do it—that wouldn't, I mean, to work the oracle, lift a little finger of their own. But, Lord bless you, give them a chance—you'll find some of the greatest the greediest.

   1901, Henry James, The Papers

   "You must work the oracle." said Lettice smiling at him. / And John Valentine did work the oracle to such good purpose that when, two days later, the brother and sister went to London for ten days, John Valentine went with them.

   1906, John Strange Winter, A Simple Gentleman

   O' course we worked the oricle; you bet! / But, 'Struth, I ain't recovered frum it yet!

   1917, C. J. Dennis, The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke