FILER (thieves’), _to steal_. See GRINCHIR. Filer la comète, or la sorgue, _to sleep in the open air_; ---- le luctrème, _to open a door by means of a picklock_, “to screw;” ---- une pelure, _to steal a coat_; ---- un sinve, _to dog a man_, “to nose;” ---- une condition, _to watch a house and get acquainted with the ins and outs in view of a burglary_. La condition était filée d’avance. Le rigolo eut bientôt cassé tout! Du gai plaisir, ils avaient l’espérance, Quand on est pègre on peut passer partout. From a song composed by Clément, a burglar (quoted by Pierre Delcourt, _Paris Voleur_, 1886). This poet of the “family men” was indiscreet enough, some days after the burglary described, to sing his production at a wine-shop frequented by thieves, and, unfortunately, by detectives also, with the result that he was sent over the water and given leisure time to commune with the Muses. (Sailors’ and popular) Filer son nœud, or son câble, _to go away_; _to run away_, “to cut the cable and run before the wind.” See PATATROT. Filer un nœud, _to spin a yarn_. File ton nœud, _go on with your story or your discourse_, “pay away.” With regard to the latter expression the _Slang Dictionary_ says:-- Pay-away ... from the nautical phrase pay-away, meaning to allow a rope to run out of a vessel. When the hearer considers the story quite long enough, he, carrying out the same metaphor, exclaims, “hold on!” (General) Filer quelqu’un, _to follow one stealthily so as to watch his movements_; (popular) ---- la mousse, _to ease oneself_. See MOUSCAILLER. Filer le Plato, _to love in a platonic manner_; ---- une poussée, _to hustle_, “to ramp;” ---- des coups de tronche, _to butt at one’s adversary with the head_; ---- une ratisse, _to thrash_, “to tan.” See VOIE. (Theatrical) Filer une scène, _to skilfully bring a scene to its climax_; (card-sharpers’) ---- la carte, _to dexterously substitute a card for another, to_ “slip” _a card_. Une fois le saut de coupe fait, le grec a le soin d’y glisser une carte large, point de repère marquant l’endroit où il doit faire sauter la coupe au mieux de ses intérêts... Il file la carte, c’est à dire il change une carte pour une autre.--_Mémoires de Monsieur Claude._ FILET DE VINAIGRE, _m._ (theatrical), _shrill voice, one that sets the teeth on edge_. FILEUR, _m._ (police), _man who dogs one, a_ “nose;” (card-sharpers’) _one who dexterously substitutes a card for another, who_ “slips” _a card_; (thieves’) _confederate of the_ floueurs _and_ emporteurs (which see), _who levies a percentage on the proceeds of a card-sharping swindle_; _person who follows thieves and extorts money from them by threats of disclosures_; _detective_; (familiar) ---- de Plato, _platonic lover_. FILLAUDIER, _m._ (popular), _one who is fond of the fair sex_, “molrower.”