what does "on the bug"mean?
‘There is not any coffee. I used the last of it yesterday.’
When he said this Portia began to cry. Savagely she stuffed paper and wood into the stove and lighted it with a trembling hand. ‘This here the way it is,’ she said. ‘Willie and Highboy were messing around tonight at a place where they got no business being. You know how I feels like I always got to keep my Willie and my Highboy close to me? Well, if I’d been there none of this trouble would of come about. But I were at the Ladies’ Meeting at the church and them boys got restless.They went down to Madame Reba’s Palace of Sweet Pleasure. And Father, this is sure one bad, wicked place. They got a man sells tickets on the bug--but they also got these strutting, bad-blood, tail-shaking nigger gals and these here red satin curtains and--’
‘Daughter,’ said Doctor Copeland irritably. He pressed his hands to the side of his head. ‘I know the place. Get to the point.’
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Answers · 4
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https://www.italki.com/question/388798
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This is clearly a highly regional form of English (there is a lot of other slang in the passage). I'm a native English speaker, but I do not know this phrase. From the context, I might guess something like "under the table" which sort of means sneakily, or that it's illegal activity, but that's a guess.
Also, an important note. You probably know this, but just in case... I know that you're quoting a book here, but when otherwise speaking English, do NOT use "nigger." It is highly derogatory, especially in modern usage.
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