wide boy en · NOUN
Etymology
Related to wide awake, i.e. sharp-witted, open-eyed, with wide open eyes.
Meanings
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(Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, slang) A man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing.
Much amusement at Westminster about David Mellor, a wide boy if ever there was one. Someone tapped his girlfriend's phone and sold the tape to The People. Very funny stuff—all about how knackered he was.
1992 July 21, Edwina Currie, Diary:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| wide boys | Number=Plur | lexicographic |