Slap-up (meal)

Origin of: Slap-up (meal)

Slap-up (meal)

This expression is generally reserved these days to describe a large, hearty meal, which was also known in the early 19th century as a slap-bang meal and was a phrase used by Charles Dickens. The origin is obscure but perhaps a slap-bang meal was one that was banged down on a tavern table along with a tankard of ale, in return for which customers would slap down coins.