Teflon Don
- noun
- /ˈtɛflɒn dɒn/
- Literature
:
Teflón Don
- Her colleagues called her the Teflon Don of the office since complaints never seemed to affect her position.
And then like within four years, Bill Clinton comes in and he's like the Teflon Don.
- And then like within four years, Bill Clinton comes in and he's like the Teflon Don.
Examples
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Despite years of controversy, the mayor retained his reputation as a Teflon Don.
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After the investigation, the media started calling him the Teflon Don because no charges were brought against him.
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The Teflon Don avoids blame.
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Don't call him a Teflon Don!
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After the investigation, the media started calling him the Teflon Don because no charges were brought against him.
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Despite years of controversy, the mayor retained his reputation as a Teflon Don.
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Her colleagues referred to her as the Teflon Don of the office since complaints never seemed to affect her position.
Synonyms
1
8.1
A person who stays popular and avoids blame after scandals
1
8.5
A person who uses tricks to avoid work or blame
Antonyms
How Blame-Resistant
26
7.1
- Literature
6
4.6
32
7.6
2
3.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The nickname combines 'Teflon' (metaphorically ‘things don’t stick’) with 'don' (a leader/boss), so the meaning ‘a leader to whom blame doesn’t stick’ is derivable only if a learner recognises the brand-based metaphor. Because understanding requires cultural/metaphorical knowledge of 'Teflon' beyond the literal material sense, the connection is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Teflon Don: The nickname Teflon Don comes from the brand Teflon, the non-stick coating used on pans, and Don, a word for a mafia boss. One famous boss, John Gotti, seemed to avoid charges so the bad news did not 'stick' to him, and that's why the name now means 'a person who avoids blame or punishment'.