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wheeler-dealer

wheeler-dealer

3 8.0
A person who makes deals using clever or dishonest methods
  • noun
  • /ˈwiːlərˌdiːlər/
  • Informal
translation icon : negociante astuto
  • Legendary wheeler-dealer Bud Shuster got emotional when his son, Bill, took his seat in Congress.
  • a real wheeler-dealer
  • wheeler-dealers know

Examples

  • I'm one who doesn't assume that Wall Street wheeler-dealers are by default conservatives who tend toward the GOP.

    Blog text (2)
  • This man, no matter how unimpressive he appeared, was one of the sneakiest wheeler-dealers I'd ever known.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So it's a great business opportunity, but the guy's a real wheeler-dealer, right?

  • My father always knew he was a wheeler-dealer, but as the details come out it gets worse and worse.

  • Lyndon Johnson was a domestic policy man, an extraordinary wheeler-dealer focused on pushing new legislation through Congress.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Slick was the wheeler-dealer and black-market specialist in the group.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • He's charming, clever, funny, a real wheeler-dealer.

  • Abraham was cool and menacing, a formidable financial wheeler-dealer on a gleaming contemporary set designed to recall the 2008 economic meltdown.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Across from me, my father and Bert Cummins were grinning and whacking each other on the back, textbook wheeler-dealers.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Lyndon Johnson was a domestic policy man, an extraordinary wheeler-dealer focused on pushing new legislation through Congress.

Synonyms

trader
vswheeler-dealer
279 2.1

A person or company that buys and sells things to make money

often uses shrewd or sometimes dishonest methods rather than plain commercial buying
dealer
vswheeler-dealer
  • Specialized
99 4.0

A person or company that buys and sells stocks and money for themselves

is more about shrewd agreement making and sometimes dishonest tactics than formal market work
operator
vswheeler-dealer
  • Offensive
34 6.9

A person who uses clever or unfair ways to get what they want

focuses on arranging business agreements rather than general rule bending manipulation
hustler
vswheeler-dealer
  • Informal
33 7.6

A person who works hard and uses clever or dishonest ways to succeed

focuses on arranging business agreements rather than only energetic effort
dealmaker
vswheeler-dealer
4 4.3

A person who makes and negotiates business deals between companies

is likely to use shrewd or sometimes dishonest methods when arranging agreements
haggler
vswheeler-dealer
1 6.7

A person who argues again and again to get a lower price for items

is skilled at arranging business agreements broadly rather than only arguing over price
bargainer
vswheeler-dealer
1 3.7

A person who talks with others to get better terms

tends to use shrewd or sometimes dishonest methods when arranging agreements
horse trader
vswheeler-dealer
1 6.3

A person who uses tough methods to get better deals

is skilled at arranging business agreements but not always that tough in negotiating
slickster
vswheeler-dealer
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who seems friendly but tricks others to get what they want

is more about arranging business agreements than general cunning or deceit
seasoned horsetrader
vswheeler-dealer
7.9

A person very good at making deals and getting better terms

is skilled at arranging business agreements but not necessarily highly experienced
finagler
vswheeler-dealer
  • Offensive
9.8

A person who gets things by tricking or lying to others

focuses on arranging business agreements rather than tricking to obtain things

How Shrewd

schemer
  • Offensive
9 7.0
wheeler-dealer
  • Informal
3 8.0
shrewd
50 4.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

wheeler-dealer = wheeler + dealer (semi-transparent) = wheeler + dealer

The compound is built from two agent nouns ('wheeler' + 'dealer'), so components are visible, but the idiomatic sense 'shrewd (sometimes dishonest) dealmaker' is not fully predictable from the parts for many learners.

Etymology

Wheeler-dealer comes from the idea of wheel plus deal, where 'wheel' suggests turning or moving things and 'deal' means 'to trade or make agreements'. So a wheeler-dealer is someone who 'moves' deals around, using clever or sometimes dishonest methods to get what they want.