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english sc-m which first came to ireland in march 1920 was established to target the irish republican army (ira). dating back from when the english came over to ireland to rule. the soldiers they sent wore a mixture of uniforms – some military, some ric. this mixture gave them the appearance of being in khaki and dark police uniform. as a result, these men got the nickname “black and tans”, and it stuck. they went round ireland to enforce english rule, became notorious through its numerous attacks on the irish civilian population, forbidding people to speak their native language gaeilge and beating and battering those who opposed english law. for the black and tans, their primary task was to make ireland “h-ll for the rebels to live in”. over 8000 black and tans went to ireland and while they found it difficult to cope with men who used cl-ssic guerrilla tactics against them, those who lived in areas where the black and tans were based, paid the price.

what did the black and tans achieve? they served no purpose for the british government as they simply failed to stop what the ira was doing. however, they did succeed in getting the republican cause a great deal of civilian support simply because of their acts – people may not have joined the ira, but they were supporters of it and gave what financial help they could to the movement. the black and tans were pulled out of ireland in ignominy.
the att-tude of the black and tans is best summed up by one of their divisional commanders:

“if a police barracks is burned or if the barracks already occupied is not suitable, then the best house in the locality is to be commandeered, the occupants thrown into the gutter. let them die there – the more the merrier.
should the order (“hands up”) not be immediately obeyed, shoot and shoot with effect. if the persons approaching (a patrol) carry their hands in their pockets, or are in any way suspicious-looking, shoot them down. you may make mistakes occasionally and innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped, and you are bound to get the right parties some time. the more you shoot, the better i will like you, and i -ssure you no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man.”

lt. col. smyth, june 1920
6 more definitions
a mixed beer drink, usually comprised of guiness and b-ss or guiness and harp’s.
give me a black and tan, barkeep!
black and tan is a drink made from a blend of pale ale, usually b-ss pale ale, and a dark beer such as a stout or porter, most often guinness. sometimes a pale lager is used instead of ale; this is usually called a half and half. contrary to popular belief, however, black and tan as a mixture of two beers is not a drink commonly consumed in ireland. indeed, the drink has image problems in parts of ireland and elsewhere due to the -ssociation with the royal irish constabulary reserve force which was sent into ireland in the early 1920s and nicknamed the black and tans.

in the republic of ireland a black and tan is normally made from a half pint of smithwick’s topped off with guinness. this version is also sometimes referred to as a “blacksmith” or a “light and bitter”. during the summer months stout drinkers may order a black and tan due to its lighter texture. likewise ale drinkers may order a smithwick’s with a guinness head. this is an ordinary pint of smithwick’s with the last inch or so topped off with guinness.
example (a great irish song): i was born on a dublin street where the royal drums did beat,
and the loving english feet walked all over us;
and every single night, when me father’d come home tight,
he’d invite the neighbours outside with this chorus:

chorus:

oh, come out you black and tans;
come out and fight me like a man;
show your wife how you won medals down in flanders;
tell her how the i.r.a. made you run like h-ll away
from the green and lovely lanes in killeshandra.

come, tell us how you slew
them ol’ arabs two by two;
like the zulus, they had spears and bows and arrows;
how you bravely faced each one,
with your sixteen pounder gun,
and you frightened them poor natives to their marrow.

chorus

come, let us hear you tell
how you slandered great parnell,
when you thought him well and truly persecuted,
where are the sneers and jeers
that you bravely let us hear,
when our heroes of sixteen were executed.

chorus

the day is coming fast
and the time is here at last,
when each shoneen will be cast aside before us;
and, if there be a need,
sure my kids will sing “g-dspeed!”,
with a bar or two of stephen behan’s chorus.

chorus
a euphemism for a bleached blonde.
larry: “i’ll take the blonde.”

moe: “i’ll take the brunette.”

curly: “i’ll take the black and tan.”

from the 3 stooges in “wreckless knights”
it is just like being blued and tattooed w/o the screwed but almost there and similarly to adding insult to injury. first you are black and now they try to burn you.
black and tan is like when after working like a slave for fifteen years they removed the profit sharing plan and last christmas they only gave you $50 bonus. that one by the way is based on a true story i heard.

an amazing new ice cream from ben and jerry’s… everyone should try it!
black and tan is my favorite ice cream.
a club or hangout with primarily black and brown, or other ethnic mixes, hangin’ out

a-what’s the club like?
b- oh, it’s black and tan, yo
a-what’s the club like?
b- oh, it’s black and tan, yo