spiv
pronunciation
How to pronounce spiv in British English:
UK [spɪv]
How to pronounce spiv in American English:
US [spɪv]
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- Noun:
- a person without employment who makes money by various dubious schemes; goes about smartly dressed and having a good time
Word Origin
- spiv (n.)
- "petty crook who will turn his hand to anything so long as it does not involve honest work," 1934, British slang, probably dating back to late 19c. and connected with spiff (see spiffy) in one of its various senses. Being a flashy dresser was a spiv characteristic. The spiv reached his apotheosis during World War II and the succeeding years, when the disrupted economic conditions allowed ample scope for unofficial trading (a pair of nylons here, a few packets of cigarettes there) and other petty crime. He became a stock figure in the English social comedy, represented on screen by such stereotypes as 'Flash Harry' (played by George Cole) in the St. Trinian's films and Pte. Walker in Dad's Army. [Ayto, "20th Century Words"]
Example
- 1. Don t pin your faith on his promises he is known to be a spiv .
- 2. European leaders hoped that emerging economies , particularly china , might put money into a special purpose investment vehicle ( unhappily1 , spiv ) capitalized by the efsf .
- 3. Don 't pin your faith on his promises ; he is known to be a spiv .
- 4. Market participants and people involved in the negotiations said details of the planned special purpose investment vehicle ( spiv ) remained too hazy to predict whether it would attract money from emerging market central bank reserves and sovereign wealth funds .