wheeler-dealer

[ hwee-ler-dee-ler, wee- ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a person who wheels and deals.

wheeler-dealer

noun

1. informal.
   a person who wheels and deals

Word History and Origins

Origin of wheeler-dealer¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

First up, the call between the prime minister and the president-elect, seeking, in Downing Street’s description of it, to describe a tone of warmth, even bonhomie between the socialist former human rights lawyer and the billionaire wheeler-dealer New Yorker.

From BBC

Most of us will likely agree that if you are making $18 or $22 or $25 per hour, you are not a wheeler-dealer in the corner suite, and you should have a right to overtime coverage without having to prove exactly how not-managerial you are.

From Slate

Akhtar renders Lopakhin as a cockney wheeler-dealer, by turns chummy and aggressive, whose brazen acquisitiveness is tempered by a raffish charm — he is fond of corny catchphrases like “see ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya” — and moments of humanity.

From New York Times

The campaign of Massa, 51, an experienced political wheeler-dealer, had sought to appeal to voter fears about Milei's volatile character and plans to cut back the size of the state.

From Reuters

Supporters of Massa, 51, an experienced political wheeler-dealer, had sought to appeal to voter fears about Milei's volatile character and "chainsaw" plan to cut back the size of the state.

From Reuters