Bodenheim slang of the day: Hamburger down

February 22, 2010
Hamburger down: Take it easy (according to the glossary of Naked on Roller Skates)

Terry drank his cornwash straight and remained undisturbed. Colored-white quartette still too interested in the next cancan to pay attention to her bark. If they did, he'd soap his way through....Convulsions to the left.
"Come on, Black Bill. Get up. Start something."
"Hamburger down, boy."
"You heard my lip. Get up. Start something."
"Ha-amburger down, boy."
"You gonna wind up a mess, boy."
"What for?"
"You know why."
"Aw, take it slow. I ain' gon' lift your chippy."
"You're damn right you ain'."

(from Naked on Roller Skates by Maxwell Bodenheim)