turn a trick

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turn a trick (third-person singular simple present turns a trick, present participle turning a trick, simple past and past participle turned a trick)

1. (chiefly US, idiomatic, of a prostitute) To perform a sexual service for a customer.
   • 1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Not too Far Tangent”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 23:

     The girls explained to me that they got eighty cents a trick, one payment for each metal check—“turning a trick” was how they described one session with a john.

   • 2007 March 22, Ajay Bhardwaj, “Laws put us at risk: hookers”, in Edmonton Sun (Canada)‎, retrieved 18 February 2009:

     City prostitutes say laws governing the sex trade are putting them in danger every time they turn a trick.

• sell one's body, turn tricks; see also Thesaurus:prostitute oneself

• trick turner

• “turn a trick”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.