spiv
IPA: spˈɪv
noun
- (Britain, historical) A smartly dressed person who trades in illicit, black-market or stolen goods, especially during World War II.
- (Britain, dated) A flashy con artist, often homeless, who lives by his wits.
- (Britain, dated, Scotland Yard) A low and common thief.
- (Britain, dated) A slacker; one who shirks responsibility.
Advertisement
Examples of "spiv" in Sentences
- A spiff or spiv is an immediate bonus for a sale.
- The origin and use of the word Spiv is itself interesting.
- The protagonist of the novel is Kennedy, a 25 year old spiv.
- All info in this article either already exists, or fits into, Spiv.
- Some users seem to be just adding any use of spiv they come across.
- Finally, the word "spiv": no fashion lesson here, just enjoyment of the word's debut on this page.
- This political 'spiv' gave no thought to the aftermath of his decisions internationally or nationally.
- Update: Upon reflection I think Mr Weston might well be seen as a slightly camp version of what the English used to call a "spiv".
- However, he was only following the precedent set by the spineless grinning 'spiv' Blair who constantly referred to and talked about:
- - the stupidity of so many voters who believed in the vacuous 'spiv' Blair and the spin from Campbell and the twice disgraced Mandelson.
- The roots lie in the British 80s and 90s -- two decades defined by the "chav" and "spiv" culture that was the fruit of the Murdoch 'n' Maggie as in Margaret Thatcher union.
- HM Treasury famously preens itself as having a collection of the very finest minds Oxbridge can produce – a pity then their principal activity seems to be devising spiv-like ways of deceiving the punters.
- The spiv, the showman; Mr Blair promised a brave new world - a shining castle on the hill - very Reaganish... a promise he most certainly could not uphold as there was no hill, the castle was made of papier mache and when the rains came it melted away......