E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Done Brown.
He was done brown. Completely bamboozled or made a fool of. This is a variety of the many expressions of a similar meaning connected with cooking, such as “I gave him a roasting,” “I cooked his goose,” “I cut him into mince-meat,” “I put him into a pretty stew,” “I settled his hash,” “He was dished up,” “He was well dressed” [drubbed], “He was served out,” etc. (See COOKING.)
