Working the angles...

[wildcard]

Does anyone have a source on the origin of "work the angles" or "working the angles." Sounds masonic.

[chad]

i'd always heard it was a variation of the idiom "play the angle," which originated in 1930s as a term for how to scam somebody.

[horseshoe3]

I thought it was refering to attacking a problem from every direction until you find the way to solve it.

[wildcard]

Yes, like a compass. It also refers to skirting any rules to get away with something.

http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=210684547413&id=be3b488a4fc1279e84d541d9243c6dfe&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.svehoa.com%2fGraphics%2fMason s..png

[ShortJohnSilver]

I thought it was from playing pool?

[Saul Mine]

I never heard that expression used to refer to a scam. In fact I never heard anybody say "working" the angles, it was always "playing" the angles. I always assumed it came from the game of pool.

[Fortyone]

Criminals often used the term "Hes got an angle" .