General
gumshoe
What does gumshoe mean?
A detective, especially a private one. Comes from the soft rubber-soled 'gum' shoes worn for sneaking around tailing suspects without a sound. The mac, the hat, the cigarette — that gumshoe.
"She hired some gumshoe to follow her husband for a week."
Origin
Early 1900s US, from 'gum shoes' (rubber-soled shoes) that allowed detectives to walk silently.
Frequently asked questions
What does gumshoe mean?
A gumshoe is a detective, especially a private investigator.
How do you use gumshoe in a sentence?
You might say, "He hired some gumshoe to trail his business partner."
Where does gumshoe come from?
It refers to the soft gum-rubber soles that let detectives move quietly, and became slang for the detectives themselves.
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