Tom Tiddler's Ground

Tom Tidler's Ground, also called Tom Tiddler's Ground or Tommy Tiddler's Ground, is an ancient children's game in which one player, "Tom Tidler, " stands on a heap of stones, gravel, etc. ; other players rush on the heap, crying "Here I am on Tom Tidler's ground, " while Tom tries to capture the invaders or keep them off. By extension, the phrase has come to mean the ground or tenement of a sluggard, or of one who is easily taken advantage of. The essence of the game lives on in such more modern games as Steal the Bacon and other variants of Tag