lamb down
To help mother sheep give birth to their baby lambs on a farm.
Meanings
(Australian/NZ farming) Of a ewe, to give birth to a lamb; or for a farmer, to assist ewes during the lambing season.
"The ewes started lambing down in early spring, so the farmers worked around the clock."
(Australian slang, historical) To persuade a newly paid worker or shearer to spend all their wages, typically by providing alcohol.
"The publican was known for lambing down the shearers every payday."
Primarily used in Australian and New Zealand farming/pastoral contexts. 'Lambing down' refers to the busy season on a sheep farm when ewes are giving birth. Can be used transitively ('lamb down the ewes') or intransitively ('the ewes are lambing down'). Also has an older Australian slang sense of persuading a shearer or worker to spend all their wages.
Commonly used with
Forms
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