Phrases in the Green Mile by Stephen King

Posted by Bob on March 18, 2001

In Reply to: Phrases in the Green Mile by Stephen King posted by helene turry on March 18, 2001

: I am trying to find out the meaning/origin of the following phrases from Stephen King's book the Green Mile:

: dead run
: in a walk
: riding the rods
: lickety-larrup
: killing bottle

a "dead run" is an all-out full speed run

And if you run at a dead run and get a big enough lead in a race, sometimes you can approach the finish line and not even have to run to seal the victory: you win in a walk.

Riding the rods (or rails) is a means of transportation that hoboes used (and may still use, as far as I know) riding on the undercarriage of rail cars. It is, of course, dangerous and illegal... but thrifty.