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Meaning of two-forty on a plank road | Babel Free

Phrase CEFR C2

Definitions

A very fast speed.
Canada, US, obsolete, slang
The quality of being "fast", i.e. immoral in one's habits.
Canada, US, broadly, obsolete, slang

Examples

“The passion of young New York is for horses — fast horses — two-forty on a plank road.”

“[…] some that remained, running to and fro, with white rags suspended on broom-handles, and an old darky had a bleached salt-sack tied to a limb of a tree, waving it at the rate of two-forty on a plank-road.”

“In Canada, where trotting is also a very favourite amusement, and whence came the famous trotting mare Flora Temple, a very “fast” young lady is generally spoken of as “two forty on a plank road.””

CEFR level

C2

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

two, six, heave two's company and three is none two's company, three's a crowd two's company, three's trumpery TWSS TWYM