Mainly UK, especially south-east England. (v) To use information (true or fictional) to provoke, tease or deceive. (v) To invent with the intent of conning. (n)A deceptive or provocative act. A "Wind-up merchant" is somebody who is disposed to wind others up, a habitual liar, or prankster. Origin: from the act of winding a clock or other clockwork device.

"He claimed he had been in the SAS, but it was just a wind-up." "Bob would wind Mike up by claiming he'd slept with Mike's girlfriend" "That blokes a wind-up merchant" "It seemed at first glance to be two mathematicians arguing number theory, but it was a wind-up - they were just talking nonsense, it turned out."

wind-up by CJ2222 October 1, 2005

Get merch

wind-up

to tease, usually with some malice

He said he's meet her at 7 o'clock, but after she'd been standing in the rain for an hour she realised it was a wind-up

wind-up by Bill Cranny December 16, 2003

Get merch

wind-up merchant

a teaser, especially of gullible people

He's a real wind-up merchant, to him every day is April Fool's Day.

wind-up merchant by Bill Cranny December 16, 2003

Get merch

wind-up doll

A kid who has to constantly 'perform' in school, extra-curricular activities, etc., just to keep their parents off their backs. These same kids are also expected to just take it (it being everything they go through), instead of venting their frustration or weariness aloud and be seen as a whiner or emotional lazy brat. A wind-up doll's parents often claim to push their kids into activities to help their grades/improve chances of getting into a good college, but are reluctant to let the poor tyke relax before he/she snaps a la Mariah Carey. Wind-up dolls either run away, go insane and take out a few people with them, or just ice themselves. (Anything to escape having to be Mommy's or Daddy's little circus clown, huh?)

Most soccer moms' children are, in fact wind-up dolls.

wind-up doll by Shawn B. June 21, 2003

Get merch