English

Proper noun

the crowbar hotel

1. (slang) Jail.
   • 1981, Watson Parker, Deadwood: The Golden Years, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 080328702X, pg. 190:

     Many unfortunate suckers, finding themselves losers, even in an honest game, became obstreperous, and the services of the bouncer, or even of a resident gunhand, might be required to pacify them, after which the complainant would be hauled to the crowbar hotel to recover enough of his equanimity to appear peacefully before a justice of the peace.

   • 1983 Oct. 21, Orland French, "Gnomes grind out the gems," The Globe and Mail (Canada):

     Correctional Services Minister Nick Leluk often refers to his "guests" in his chain of "hotels". What do these guests have to do to earn their keep in Ontario's crowbar hotels?

   • 2007 Aug. 22, Dave Perkins, "NFL will paper over Vick scandal," Toronto Star (Canada):

     If Vick gets 18 months in the crowbar hotel, as speculated, that essentially means two seasons away from the NFL.