General
old bill
What does old bill mean?
The police, especially in London. Often just 'the Bill'. Origin is fuzzy — possibly the WWI cartoon character Old Bill, possibly the 'BL' on old Met warrant cards. ITV's The Bill ran for 26 years and locked it into the national vocabulary.
"Leg it — old bill's at the door."
Origin
Disputed; theories include Bruce Bairnsfather's WWI cartoon 'Old Bill' and the 'BL' letters on Metropolitan Police warrant cards.
Frequently asked questions
What does "old bill" mean?
Old bill is London slang for the police.
How do you use "old bill" in a sentence?
"Watch out, the old bill are parked round the corner."
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