General
the dibble
What does the dibble mean?
The police. Used singular or plural — 'the dibble are out tonight', 'there's a dibble parked on the corner'. Cartoonish on purpose, which is half the point: it takes the edge off them.
"Knock it on the head, the dibble just pulled up."
Origin
Lifted from Officer Charlie Dibble, the put-upon cop chasing the gang in Hanna-Barbera's Top Cat (1961, broadcast in the UK as Boss Cat). Mancunians ran with it and never let go.
Frequently asked questions
What does "the dibble" mean?
It's slang for the police — specifically used around Greater Manchester.
How do you use "the dibble" in a sentence?
"Leg it, the dibble are coming round the corner."
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