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Glite Dictionary
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wheelman

wheelman

6 8.7
A person who drives a car to help criminals escape after a crime
  • noun
  • /ˈwiːl.mən/
  • Jargon
translation icon : conductor
  • During the heist, James acted as the wheelman, ensuring a quick getaway.

Examples

  • We need to find a reliable wheelman for our next job to avoid getting caught.

  • That's where the backup wheelman's waiting for us.

    Hotel Artemis (2018)

  • Sitting still in a light doze in the middle of acres of asphalt under a bright moon, the wheelman waited where he could see in all directions, listening to the radio for his number to come up.

    Blog text (19)

  • — Who's the wheelman?

    Tough Guys (1986)

  • When planning the robbery, they discussed who would be the best wheelman for the escape route.

Synonyms

wheelsman
vswheelman
  • NSFW
9.9

A person who drives the getaway car for criminals

has identical meaning but is spelled without the extra s

Surface Forms

wheelman singular
wheelmen plural

Morphology

wheelman = wheel + man (semi-transparent) = wheel + man

Formally a clear compound ('wheel' + 'man'), but the specialized criminal sense 'getaway driver' is idiomatic and may not be inferable by all learners.

Etymology

Wheelman comes from putting wheel and man together — literally a 'man at the wheel'. Picture someone ready to drive away quickly, and that is why wheelman is often used for the driver who helps others 'get away' after a crime.