1. Intensive
police activity; police
pressure put upon
criminals as a result of
public resentment against
widespread crime,
newspaper crusades,
political reform campaigns, etc.; extensive police
raids and arrests. "
We can't grift (steal) in this heat. Blow (leave town) for a while." Used idiomaticly, as : "
The heat is on" -police activity in a given area is at its peak; the police are on one's trail. "Stash (hide) that collat (negotiable loot). You can't fence (sell) it for peanuts (any appreciable sum) when the heat is still on." 2. A revolver or pistol. "Go get the heat. There's some crimp (informer) we gotta take care of (kill)."
- american underworld dictionary - 1950