do your twenty

English translation: work 20 years

17:02 May 24, 2017
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Slang
English term or phrase: do your twenty
Stash at least $50K where you can lay your hands on it inside an hour, in case IAB comes and you have to go on the lam. Another fifty for bail money if you didn’t get out in time. Otherwise, spend a little, put the rest away, do your twenty, pull the pin, have a life.

meaning twenty years of work?
allp
Poland
Local time: 17:10
Selected answer:work 20 years
Explanation:
This is only slightly above a guess.

It sounds like this is a policeman talking and I think they can retire after twenty years of service. So he is saying work for 20 years (do your 20) and then retire (pull the pin) while you are young enough to enjoy it (have a life).

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Note added at 16 hrs (2017-05-25 09:48:20 GMT)
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NYC police officers can retire after 20 years, and most do unless they've been promoted. See http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/nyregion/most-police-offic...
Selected response from:

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 17:10
Grading comment
I think this is the intended meaning.
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
2 +7work 20 years
Terry Richards
3 +3do a 20-year prison sentence
Sheila Wilson


Discussion entries: 12





  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
do a 20-year prison sentence


Explanation:
I think this refers to someone who has pulled off some sort of major crime. That's why you have the reference to bail money and going on the lam (going into hiding from someone). So, its saying have a good time for a short while, then give yourself up and "do your twenty (years)". After that you're a free man (or woman) and don't have to look over your shoulder all the time.

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Note added at 34 mins (2017-05-24 17:36:37 GMT)
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do time
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=do time
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/to-do-t...

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Note added at 4 hrs (2017-05-24 21:29:23 GMT)
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So, we have here two slang expressions that have multiple meanings; and in each case more than one could apply here.

"Pull the pin":
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pull the pin
stop what you're doing and leave; disconnect
get out of there; save yourself; escape
lose your temper or start to yell because someone pissed you off
remove a tampon after use
https://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/pull the pin.h...
If you pull the pin, you put an end to something, quit or resign.
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/to-pull-the-pin.1084...
discussion of a context - inconclusive
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic62628.html
discussion of a context - inconclusive

"Do your twenty"
More difficult to research.
Certainly could refer to working 20 years; or could refer to doing a prison sentence.

I just remember the Great Train Robbers (I used to buy flowers from Buster Edwards after he'd done his time), and how one (Ronald Biggs) led a tortured life on the run. Even after being promised safety from extradition for life in Brazil, he still returned to England in the end and gave himself up.

Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 16:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alison Wedley
2 mins
  -> Thanks

agree  acetran
17 hrs
  -> Thanks

agree  Graeme Jones: spend a little, hide the rest, go to jail if you have to, come out and retrieve it
19 hrs
  -> Thanks Graeme. That's how I read it, but I admit there are ambiguities.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +7
work 20 years


Explanation:
This is only slightly above a guess.

It sounds like this is a policeman talking and I think they can retire after twenty years of service. So he is saying work for 20 years (do your 20) and then retire (pull the pin) while you are young enough to enjoy it (have a life).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2017-05-25 09:48:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

NYC police officers can retire after 20 years, and most do unless they've been promoted. See http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/nyregion/most-police-offic...

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 17:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I think this is the intended meaning.
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Yes, surely this is what happens if you don't get caught. You can't "spend a little and put the rest away" if you're in prison.
1 hr

agree  B D Finch: "... in case IAB comes and you have to go on the lam," makes it clear that he is anticipating avoiding prison.
1 hr

agree  Jacek Kloskowski
1 hr

agree  Yvonne Gallagher: with BDF
4 hrs

agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
17 hrs

agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Since it's followed immediately by 'pull the pin' (i.e. retire), it must refer to working.
20 hrs

agree  Edith Kelly: with Tina
20 hrs
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