• ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukOP
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    26 days ago

    There are a bunch of proposed etymologies, including rhyming slang (grasshopper = copper), but none of them are very convincing.

    Others include “snake in the grass” or the song “Whispering grass” (although the first use predates the song by 8 years).

    It could also be rhyming island from “grass in the park” -> nark.

    Grasshopper handily also explains “shopping” someone.