Patch

Patch (noun / UK Slang)

(Also heard as: My patch, On my patch, Local patch)

Definition:

Your patch is the area you know, work in or look after, such as your local neighbourhood. Police use it for the area they cover, and ordinary people use it for the streets they call their own.

Where Patch Comes From:

It comes from the idea of a patch of ground. The word was used for a plot of land and later for an area covered by a worker, a police officer or a local gang. It is a long-standing British word.

How People Actually Use Patch:

You hear “stay off my patch”, “he knows the patch” and “my old patch”. It is common in crime dramas, but also for plumbers, delivery drivers and anyone who covers a local area.

Is Patch Rude?

No. It is neutral, though “stay off my patch” can sound territorial.

Examples in the Wild:

• “I grew up on this patch.”

  Meaning: This is the area I come from.

• “Stay off my patch.”

  Meaning: Keep out of my area.

• “The local copper knows the patch well.”

  Meaning: The officer knows the area well.

Similar Slang:

Ends, Manor, Mandem, Roadman, Yard

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