General
papa bear
What does papa bear mean?
A male police officer — sometimes specifically a supervisor or senior trooper. Less common than 'mama bear' because male is the default assumption when someone just says 'bear.'
"Papa bear's running the show at that checkpoint, no slipping through."
Origin
1970s American CB-radio trucker slang from the Goldilocks-family bear naming, built on the 'bear = cop' metaphor.
Frequently asked questions
What does papa bear mean in CB/road slang?
It refers to a male cop, or a senior officer out on the road.
How do you use papa bear in a sentence?
"Watch out, there's a papa bear parked up ahead."
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