Turn tricks
Meaning
To engage in acts of prostitution for money.
Origin
The phrase "turn tricks" emerged from the gritty argot of the American underworld, gaining traction in the early 20th century. In this clandestine world, "trick" was street slang for an act of prostitution—a brief, transactional encounter for payment. The verb "turn" suggested the performance or completion of these acts, one after another, as a means to earn money. It vividly captured the repetitive and often dehumanizing nature of the work, solidifying into a widely understood idiom that painted prostitution not just as an encounter, but as a continuous cycle of performances for survival within the shadowy corners of society.
Examples
- Desperate for cash, the young woman was considering if she needed to turn tricks to make rent.
- The detective's investigation revealed that the suspect often frequented areas where people would turn tricks.