wide boy
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing.
Register: slang
Examples
Much amusement at Westminster about David Mellor, a wide boy if ever there was one. Someone tapped his girlfriend's phone and sold the tape to The People. Very funny stuff—all about how knackered he was.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “wide boy” mean?
A man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing.
Is “wide boy” formal or informal?
wide boy is generally slang.