In Season Two Episode One of Happy Valley, the mentor constable explains to the new recruit how helpful it is to have a good relationship with the receptionist, Joyce:

Oh, and get well in with Joyce, she knows everybody and everything, and she'll never see you fast.

What is "see you fast"?

What I tried: idioms.thefreedictionary.com (both see and fast pages).

The story takes place in West Yorkshire.


I wonder if it has something to do with fasting as in going without food.


Solution 1:

fast in British dialect seems to mean perplexed

from The English Dialect Dictionary by Joseph Wright, 1900.

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Link to book entry and page

This text includes the definition To be (or get) fast among it; to be embarrassed, puzzled, or at a standstill, as in the phrase to be fast for, to be at a loss for, to be in want of.

The phrase "see you fast" also occurs in some modern lyrics, but can't tell whether they're using the word this way.

In any case the meaning is that the secretary will never let the recruit be in a quandary.