corner-man

A corner-man buys up all the fresh fruit at the market.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who frequents street corners, especially in a social or idle manner: "corner-man" refers to an individual, often a young man, who habitually gathers or loiters on street corners, typically in urban areas, sometimes associated with minor criminal activity or street culture.
   • A person involved in cornering goods: In historical or economic contexts, "corner-man" can denote someone who engages in "cornering" — buying up large quantities of a commodity to control its price and create a monopoly, as noted in the reference to "kẻ vét hàng đầu cơ" (a speculator who corners goods).

Usage Examples

• Social loiterer: (Individuals who gathered idly on the street corner.)
• Economic speculator: (A person who cornered the market in wheat.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a corner-man": to habitually spend time on street corners, often as part of a group.

  • He was known as a corner-man in his neighborhood, always chatting with friends after school. (He was a regular presence on the street corner.)

• "corner-man" in boxing: In boxing slang, a "corner-man" refers to a member of a boxer's support team (e.g., trainer, cutman) who works in the corner of the ring during a match. This is a specialized use, though less common.

  • The corner-man quickly tended to the fighter's bleeding eye between rounds. (The support staff in the boxer's corner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Corner-boy (n): a synonym for "corner-man" in the social loiterer sense, often used interchangeably.

  • The corner-boys were seen hanging out near the store. (Young men loitering on the corner.)

• Corner (v): to force into a difficult position; to gain control of a market.

  • He tried to corner the market on rare coins. (To monopolize.)

Synonyms

• Loiterer: someone who stands around idly in public places.
• Hanger-on: a person who associates with others, often in a passive or parasitic way.
• Speculator: a person who engages in risky financial transactions to profit from price changes.

Phrasal Verbs

• Corner up: (rare) to gather or accumulate in a corner.

  • The kids cornered up near the playground. (They gathered in a corner.)

• Corner off: to isolate or trap someone, often in a discussion.

  • He cornered off the manager to ask for a raise. (He trapped the manager in conversation.)

Related Idioms

• To be in a corner: to be in a difficult or awkward situation.

  • After losing his job, he felt he was in a corner. (In a tough spot.)

• To fight one's corner: to defend one's position or interests vigorously.

  • She had to fight her corner during the debate to get her proposal accepted. (Defend her stance.)