work the oracle
verb1
Government, Law enforcement UK, Slang To 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:
- 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:
2 more examples
- It is his glowing eye and ingenuous smile that works the oracle, I fancy.1910, Walter Arnold Mursell, Two on a Tour:
- 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: