hotel detective
- noun
- /hoʊˈtɛl dɪˈtɛktɪv/
- Archaic
:
detective del hotel
- Guests felt safer knowing that a hotel detective was always on duty to handle any disturbances.
Examples
-
But then I realized that people would probably think I was a thief and call the hotel detective or the police, and I decided not to.
Fiction book (1990) -
A hotel detective was called in to investigate the theft that occurred during the busy weekend.
-
- Brilliant, you must be the hotel detective.
-
The hotel detective quickly solved the mystery of the missing jewelry from the guests' room.
Synonyms
∞
2.7
A police officer who investigates crimes and finds out what happened
64
3.7
A person hired to find facts about crimes or private matters who is not a police officer
30
3.4
A person who is not a police officer and is paid to investigate crimes
24
4.2
A person hired to find out information for someone, often about crimes
13
3.7
A person hired to find missing people or information
1
6.5
A person hired by a hotel or store to watch for theft
1
9.9
A private detective a hotel or shop hires to find thieves
A private detective hired to find information for people or businesses
How Investigative
64
3.7
- Archaic
2
4.2
210
1.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a private detective employed by a hotel' is directly derivable from combining 'hotel' (a place for lodging) with 'detective' (a person who investigates), indicating the detective's workplace. This place+agent compounding is common in English and other languages (e.g., 'bank manager', 'school teacher'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Hotel detective comes from the simple picture of a detective working inside a hotel, walking the halls and quietly watching guests for thieves or trouble. So it means 'a private detective hired by a hotel to find thefts and keep guests safe'.