dope dealer

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformal

   A person who sells illegal drugs, especially heroin or marijuana.

   Grammar: Countable: use a/an or a plural — a dope dealer, two dope dealers.

   Patterns

   • a dope dealer on the street
   • arrest someone as a dope dealer

   The police arrested a local dope dealer near the school.

   He told the court that a dope dealer had threatened him.

   In the 1970s, the neighborhood was known for its dope dealers.

2. 2nouncountablefigurativeinformal

   Someone who gives out information or things in a way that seems like selling drugs.

   Grammar: Figurative use, countable. Often used jokingly about people who share gossip or favors.

   Patterns

   • a dope dealer of gossip
   • act like a dope dealer

   Don't be such a dope dealer with the office rumors.

   He's the dope dealer of compliments, always flattering the boss.

Word forms

Common combinations

street dope dealer

The street dope dealer was caught selling to undercover officers.

convicted dope dealer

The convicted dope dealer is now serving five years in prison.

dope dealer's stash

Police found the dope dealer's stash hidden in a car.

known as a dope dealer

He was known as a dope dealer in the neighborhood.

Synonyms and how they differ

drug dealer

Drug dealer is the standard, neutral term used in news and formal writing; dope dealer is more informal and often sounds dated.

pusher

Pusher is an older slang word for someone who sells drugs, often suggesting they sell to addicts; it is even more negative than dope dealer.

narcotraficante

This Spanish word is used in English mainly in news about Latin America; it is not a general synonym for dope dealer.

Commonly confused: dope dealer or dope?

Practice

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