g.man

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Federal agent (informal, US): "g.man" (short for "Government man") is an informal term, primarily used in the United States, referring to a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or a similar federal law enforcement agency. It specifically denotes an agent who investigates federal crimes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The g.man arrived at the crime scene to lead the investigation. (A federal investigator took charge of the case.)
  • In the old gangster movies, the hero was often a tough g.man. (A fictional FBI agent portrayed in films.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a g.man": to be a federal law enforcement officer.

  • He spent twenty years as a g.man, working on organized crime cases. (He worked as an FBI agent for two decades.)

• "the g.man's badge": a symbol of federal authority.

  • The suspect surrendered when he saw the g.man's badge. (The suspect gave up upon seeing the agent's official identification.)

Variants and Related Words

• G-man (n, alternative spelling): the same term, often written with a hyphen.

  • The G-man was known for his relentless pursuit of criminals. (The federal agent was famous for his dedication.)

• Government man (n, full form): the original phrase from which "g.man" is abbreviated.

  • He was a government man, working under the Department of Justice. (He was a federal employee in law enforcement.)

Synonyms

• FBI agent: a specific type of g.man within the Bureau.
• Federal agent: a broader term for any agent of a US federal agency.
• Bureau man: informal synonym for an FBI agent.

Related Idioms

• "to call in the g.man": to request federal intervention or investigation.

  • When the local police couldn't solve the case, they had to call in the g.man. (They requested FBI assistance.)

• "to play the g.man": to act as if one has federal authority (often in a metaphorical or exaggerated sense).

  • Don't try to play the g.man here; you're just a security guard. (Do not pretend to have federal powers.)