hustler
/ˈhʌslə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhʌslər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhə-slər/ (ame, mw)
hustler — noun
- hustlersingular
- hustlersplural
1. a sharp-witted person who makes money by fooling others — for example, by sellin
a sharp-witted person who makes money by fooling others — for example, by selling fake goods, running a card scam on the street, or talking strangers into paying for something worthless.
Madison lost two hundred dollars to a hustler running a card trick near the train station.
common pattern: lose money to a hustler
The old neighbourhood was full of small-time hustlers selling fake watches to tourists.
collocation: small-time hustler
Tomás warned his grandmother that the smiling stranger at the door was a hustler.
Police arrested a hustler who had tricked dozens of elderly people into buying useless insurance.
- swindler
more formal; emphasises the act of cheating someone out of money
- con artist
stresses an elaborate, convincing scheme rather than a quick trick
- scammer
modern and very common; often used of online or phone fraud
文法句型
a hustler
small-time hustler
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person; the verb is often 'lost money to' or 'tricked by'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is an offensive label for a sex worker rather than a swindler.
常見錯誤
2. an offensive word used, mostly in American English, for a person who is paid to
an offensive word used, mostly in American English, for a person who is paid to have sex — particularly a man who looks for customers on the street.
The documentary followed several hustlers working the back streets of Los Angeles in the 1980s.
common collocation: hustlers working [location]
Calling someone a hustler in this sense is insulting and should be avoided in polite conversation.
register marker: offensive use
Hugo's novel describes a young hustler who dreams of escaping the city for a quiet life.
The film portrays a hustler trying to leave that life behind after meeting an old friend.
- sex worker
the neutral, respectful modern term preferred in news writing
- prostitute
more formal but still felt by many to be judgmental
文法句型
a hustler
用法筆記
Considered offensive — used mainly in older American slang, often about male sex workers. Most modern writers prefer the neutral term 'sex worker'. Different from sense 1 (a person who cheats others for money).