Another odd usage from an early 30s movie, this one is from The Man With Two Faces (1934) starring Edward G. Robinson. Near the beginning of the movie a newspaper cutting is shown giving notice of an upcoming play.
Ben Weston’s new mystery meller, The Dark Tower, is still being polished up out of town. This week the socialites at Locust Valley, L.I. will take a hinge at it at the Red Barn Theatre.
It seems to mean ‘take a look’ but the phrase is absent from OED. Anything in the slang dics?
BTW it’s interesting to see the British spelling of theatre in this American movie. Is it still often spelt thus in the US?
D’oh! It’s just struck me that it’s simply a variant of take a swing at, which would fit the hinge figure perfectly. Did it get much use though? I’ve certainly never heard it before.