Wide boy
Encyclopedia
Wide boy is a British
term for a man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary
it is synonymous with spiv
. The word 'wide' is in this sense means wide-awake or sharp-witted. Newspapers of the late 1940s and 1950s often use both terms in the same article about the same person when dealing with ticket touts, fraudsters and black market traders. It has become more generally used to describe a dishonest trader or a petty criminal who works by guile rather than force.
The word came to public attention in 1937 with the publication of Wide Boys Never Work by Robert Westerby
, a novel about gamblers and hustlers. During World War II
such individuals became involved in the black market, but the term only began to appear in newspapers from 1947.
from Only Fools and Horses
, Flash Harry
from the St Trinian's
books and films, Private Walker from Dad's Army
, Arthur Daley from Minder
and Harry Robinson from The Ladykillers
are all fictional examples of the wide boy type. The wheeler-dealer cockney second hand car salesman Terry Tibbs, a fictitious comedy character from Channel 4's Fonejacker
, is another example.
referred to the term in the lyrics to their song "Scum of the Earth" on their 1974 album Preservation: Act II
. This is an early usage of the term in a modern rock and roll song. Kinks songwriter Ray Davies later used the term again in his song "Stand Up Comic."
In Richard Thompson's song "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight," on the album of the same name by Richard and Linda Thompson (1974), the lyrics include the line "The wide boys are all spoiling for a fight." When he performs the song live, Thompson often changes it to "big boys."
Ultravox
released the song "Wide Boys" on their eponymous first LP in 1977. The 1970s rock band Foghat
had a popular song "Wide Boy" on their 1981 Girls to Chat Boys to Bounce album, and Godley and Creme released a single of the same title in 1980 which was to start their careers in video direction. Kevin Mooney
, formerly of Adam and the Ants
, formed the short-lived band Wide Boy Awake in 1982 who disbanded after a couple of EPs. Nik Kershaw
also released a single called "Wide Boy
" in 1984, making Top Ten in the UK. The Flying Pickets
a British a cappella
vocal group also did a song called "Wide Boy" on their album Lost Boys
in 1984. Marillion
(with Fish
) released "Heart of Lothian" on the 1985 album Misplaced Childhood
, in which the lyrics mention "Wide boys, we were wide boys, born with hearts of Lothian, these hearts of Lothian."
or Rugby Football
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
term for a man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
it is synonymous with spiv
Spiv
In the United Kingdom, a spiv is a particular type of petty criminal, who deals in stolen or black market goods of questionable authenticity, especially a slickly-dressed man offering goods at bargain prices...
. The word 'wide' is in this sense means wide-awake or sharp-witted. Newspapers of the late 1940s and 1950s often use both terms in the same article about the same person when dealing with ticket touts, fraudsters and black market traders. It has become more generally used to describe a dishonest trader or a petty criminal who works by guile rather than force.
The word came to public attention in 1937 with the publication of Wide Boys Never Work by Robert Westerby
Robert Westerby
Robert Westerby , was an author of novels and screenwriter for films and television....
, a novel about gamblers and hustlers. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
such individuals became involved in the black market, but the term only began to appear in newspapers from 1947.
Fictional portrayals
Del BoyDel Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
from Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
, Flash Harry
Flash Harry (St Trinian's)
Henry Cuthbert Edwards aka Flash Harry is a fictional character from the St. Trinian's series of films who first appears in the 1954 The Belles of St Trinian's. The term refers to "an ostentatious, loudly-dressed, and usually ill-mannered man", who may also be a spiv...
from the St Trinian's
St Trinian's School
St Trinian's is a fictional girls' boarding school, the creation of English cartoonist Ronald Searle, that later became the subject of a popular series of comedy films....
books and films, Private Walker from Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
, Arthur Daley from Minder
Minder (TV series)
Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV...
and Harry Robinson from The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers is a 1955 British black comedy film made by Ealing Studios. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, it stars Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner and Katie Johnson...
are all fictional examples of the wide boy type. The wheeler-dealer cockney second hand car salesman Terry Tibbs, a fictitious comedy character from Channel 4's Fonejacker
Fonejacker
Fonejacker is a British comedy programme broadcast on E4 featuring a series of prank calls involving a number of different characters performed by British Iranian television actor Kayvan Novak. It first appeared in May 2006, although it did not become a full series until 2007.The first series began...
, is another example.
Musical references
The KinksThe Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
referred to the term in the lyrics to their song "Scum of the Earth" on their 1974 album Preservation: Act II
Preservation: Acts 1 & 2
Preservation: Act 1 is a 1973 concept album by the English rock group The Kinks.Preservation was not well-received by critics and sold poorly , though the live performances of the material were much better received...
. This is an early usage of the term in a modern rock and roll song. Kinks songwriter Ray Davies later used the term again in his song "Stand Up Comic."
In Richard Thompson's song "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight," on the album of the same name by Richard and Linda Thompson (1974), the lyrics include the line "The wide boys are all spoiling for a fight." When he performs the song live, Thompson often changes it to "big boys."
Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
released the song "Wide Boys" on their eponymous first LP in 1977. The 1970s rock band Foghat
Foghat
Foghat are a British rock band that had their peak success in the mid- to late-1970s. Their style can be described as "blues-rock," or boogie-rock dominated by electric and electric slide guitar. The band has achieved five gold records...
had a popular song "Wide Boy" on their 1981 Girls to Chat Boys to Bounce album, and Godley and Creme released a single of the same title in 1980 which was to start their careers in video direction. Kevin Mooney
Kevin Mooney
Kevin Mooney is an English rock bassist and guitarist who has worked with Adam Ant, Sinéad O'Connor, and others.-Career:...
, formerly of Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants
Adam and the Ants were a British rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The original group, which existed from 1977 to 1980, became notable as a cult band marking the transition from the late-1970s punk rock era to the post-punk and New Wave era...
, formed the short-lived band Wide Boy Awake in 1982 who disbanded after a couple of EPs. Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw is an English singer-songwriter. The one time jazz-funk guitarist was a mid-1980s teen idol. His 50 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other soloists...
also released a single called "Wide Boy
The Riddle (album)
The Riddle is Nik Kershaw's second album. It was released in 1984 by MCA Records.-LP, Cassette, CD:#"Don Quixote" – 4:55#"Know How" – 4:52#"You Might" – 3:17#"Wild Horses" – 3:59#"Easy" – 4:13#"The Riddle" – 3:52#"City of Angels" – 3:56...
" in 1984, making Top Ten in the UK. The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets are a British a cappella vocal group, who had a Christmas number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Yazoo's track "Only You".-History:...
a British a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
vocal group also did a song called "Wide Boy" on their album Lost Boys
Lost Boys (album)
-Track listing:#"Remember This" - 2:31#"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - 3:31#"Disco Down" - 3:21#"So Close" - 3:23...
in 1984. Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
(with Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
) released "Heart of Lothian" on the 1985 album Misplaced Childhood
Misplaced Childhood
Misplaced Childhood is the third studio album of the neo-progressive rock band Marillion. It was released in 1985 and has been their most commercially successful album, reaching number one in the and spending a total of 41 weeks on the chart, the longest chart residency of a Marillion album...
, in which the lyrics mention "Wide boys, we were wide boys, born with hearts of Lothian, these hearts of Lothian."
Other usage
"Wide boys" is used humorously but now commonly to refer to wingers in Association, GaelicGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
or Rugby Football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
.
External Links
- London Books: Wide Boys Never Work essay review by Martin Knight, 2008