Word: Bootlegger
Definition: A "bootlegger" is a noun that refers to someone who makes or sells illegal alcohol, especially during the time when alcohol was banned in the United States (known as Prohibition) from 1920 to 1933.
Usage Instructions: You can use "bootlegger" to describe a person involved in the illegal trade of alcoholic beverages. It is often used in historical contexts, but can also refer to modern illegal activities related to alcohol.
Example Sentence: - During Prohibition, many bootleggers operated secret bars where people could buy alcohol.
Advanced Usage: In modern contexts, the term "bootlegger" can also refer to anyone who illegally produces or sells products that are supposed to be regulated, not just alcohol.
Word Variants: - Bootlegging (noun): The act of making or selling illegal liquor. - Bootleg (verb): To make or sell something illegally, especially alcohol.
Different Meanings: In a broader sense, "bootleg" can also be used to describe any unauthorized or illegal distribution of media, such as movies or music. For example, a "bootleg recording" refers to an unauthorized copy of a performance.
Synonyms: - Smuggler (someone who illegally brings goods into a country) - Illicit dealer (someone who sells things illegally)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "bootlegger," you might hear phrases like: - "On the sly" (doing something secretively or illegally) - "Under the table" (referring to secretive or illegal deals, often involving money)
Summary: A bootlegger is someone who illegally makes or sells alcohol. The term is often linked to the historical Prohibition era, but it can also apply to modern illegal activities related to alcohol or even other regulated products.