General
three hots and a cot
What does three hots and a cot mean?
Slang for someone attending hospital chiefly to secure meals ('three hots') and a bed ('a cot') rather than for genuine illness. Abbreviated THC.
"No medical issue found — he's here for three hots and a cot."
Origin
US slang (also used of jail); adopted in EDs.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'three hots and a cot' mean?
It refers to three hot meals and a bed to sleep in. In hospitals it describes someone presenting mainly to secure food and shelter rather than for genuine illness.
Where does the phrase come from?
It is older US slang, often used of jail or the military, that was adopted in emergency departments to describe such presentations.
What does THC stand for here?
In this context THC is the abbreviation of 'three hots and a cot,' not the cannabis compound.
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