come upon the town

English

Etymology

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Pronunciation
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Phrase

come upon the town

  1. (archaic, idiomatic) To become a prostitute; turn to prostitution.[1]
    • 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter VIII, in Pride and Prejudice, volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton […], OCLC 38659585, page 144:
      To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farm house.

References
  1. Jones, V. (ed.), 2014, Pride and Prejudice, →ISBN, page 398
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