An informal slang exclamation used as a warning, especially to alert someone that a police officer or authority figure is approaching.
American slang from the early 20th century, likely derived from 'cheese it' meaning to stop doing something or run away. The exact origin is uncertain, but it became popularized in American crime slang and movies.
This word captures a specific moment in American culture—the mid-20th century when slang was flying between street kids and early movies, creating a colorful underground dictionary that would have shocked adults at the time.
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