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View synonyms for gumshoe

gumshoe

[ guhm-shoo ]

noun

  1. Slang. a detective.
  2. a shoe made of gum elastic or India rubber; rubber overshoe.


verb (used without object)

, gum·shoed, gum·shoe·ing.
  1. Slang.
    1. to work as a detective.
    2. to go softly, as if wearing rubber shoes; move or act snoopily or stealthily.

gumshoe

/ ˈɡʌmˌʃuː /

noun

  1. a waterproof overshoe
  2. a rubber-soled shoe
  3. slang.
    a detective or one who moves about stealthily
  4. slang.
    a stealthy action or movement
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. slang.
    intr to act stealthily
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gumshoe1

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; gum 1 + shoe
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Example Sentences

Gorriti is clear on who is behind it: A cabal of “kleptocrats” in Peru’s political and business elites who are in prosecutorial peril due in large part to his crowning gumshoe achievements.

He was famous for his cynical, hard-drinking gumshoe, Philip Marlowe, and lines like: “It was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window.”

In that kitchen in 2011, the gumshoe/driving instructor and the attorney/mom forged a partnership.

“Murder Mystery 2” picks up where the first film left off, with Nick and Audrey having parlayed their crime-solving success into a career as professional gumshoes.

But if the musical ever gets a rewrite, I’d suggest bringing the gumshoe on as soon as possible.

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