blotter
1. slang One who is prone to drink large quantities of alcohol. Of course Grant doesn't remember what happened at the bar last night—he's a total blotter. Geez, if I go to the bar again this week, I'm gonna look like a real blotter. I didn't think Mary Alice was a blotter, but she must have been wasted if she got up in front of everyone and did karaoke last night!
2. The log of arrests made by police. Also known as a "police blotter." Mom will freak out if you do anything to land in the police blotter! The local newspaper has been printing the blotter provided by the station every day for the past 70 years, regardless of what kind of crime has been happening in the town or not. It's always awkward when I see former classmates' names in the police blotter.
3. slang The drug LSD (as it can be sold on pieces of blotting paper). I need to get some blotter before the concert. I'll smoke weed with you, man, but I'm not interested in blotter. I can't believe kids had blotter at the dance. I would never do that stuff.
police blotter
The written record of events, especially arrests, that occur on a daily basis in a police station or precinct. The local newspaper has been printing the police blotter provided by the station every day for the past 70 years, regardless of what kind of crime has been happening in the town or not.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
police blotter
A precinct's daily written record of arrests. In the days before ballpoint pens, much less computers, police station house records were kept with ink pens, the writing from which had to be blotted to keep the ink from smearing. Sheets of paper might come and go, but the blotter's indelible imprint remained as a metaphorical reminder of the name of the person who was arrested. That's why many old gangster movies has lines about the cops checking a bad guy's record on the police blotter.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price