blind tiger
Definition
Noun (American English, slang):
- An illegal establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, especially during Prohibition or in areas where alcohol sales are restricted.
- Example: "The police raided a blind tiger hidden in the back of a grocery store." (A secret bar selling liquor without a license.)
Usage Examples
- (Illegal bars disguised as other businesses.)
- (An unlicensed alcohol-selling operation.)
Advanced Usage
- "to run a blind tiger": to operate an illegal bar or liquor-selling establishment.
- The gang made a fortune running blind tigers across the city. (They managed multiple illegal drinking spots.)
Variants and Related Words
- Blind pig (n): a synonym for "blind tiger," also meaning an illegal bar.
- The term "blind pig" was more common in the Midwest. (Another slang term for the same concept.)
Synonyms
- Speakeasy: a secret bar that sold alcohol illegally, especially during Prohibition.
- Bootlegger: a person who illegally makes, transports, or sells alcohol.
- Illicit bar: any unlicensed establishment serving alcohol.
Related Idioms
- "Blind tiger" (as a fixed phrase): used historically to refer to any hidden or illegal business, not just alcohol.
- The warehouse was a blind tiger for stolen goods. (A secret location for illegal trade.)