Don't try to put one over on me

Origin

The phrase 'put one over on me' likely emerged from the competitive arenas of games and street hustles in late 19th-century America. Imagine a slick card shark or a clever street vendor trying to pass off a fast one, a quick trick designed to gain an unfair advantage. The 'one' itself could represent a point scored, a successful swindle, or a deceptive move that gives the perpetrator an undeserved win. It was a warning shot fired back at the cunning individual, asserting that their thinly veiled attempt at trickery had been seen through, an early declaration of 'I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work on me.'