mover n.
1. an ambitious and successful person, both socially and with the opposite sex; ext. as movers and shakers, movers and groovers; occas. therefore just as shaker n.
[ | George Spelvin Chats 177: They made a very unfavorable impression on the hot-eyed world-shakers of the New Deal]. | |
On the Waterfront (1964) 17: A step below them the local movers like Johnny F., then the lieutenants such as himself. | ||
Rockabilly (1963) 53: How about maybe we buy a piece of this kid, he smells like he’s gonna be a mover. | ||
All Night Stand 113: He’s like that you know, not much of a mover. | ||
Digger’s Game (1981) 35: The movers that don’t always go home at night. | ||
Time 22 Apr. 61/2: He had enormous influence among the movers and shakers in Washington. | ||
Campus Sl. Mar. 5: mover – sexually aggressive male. | ||
Christine 434: Libertyville’s movers and shakers lived here. | ||
Fixx 82: One of London’s unofficial movers and shakers. | ||
If... 2 Nov. in If Files (1997) 36: Are your parents movers and shakers and how much do they earn?? | ||
Yes We Have No 52: A sharp dresser, a mover, quick with words. | ||
Layer Cake 14: People who were movers and groovers on the arts scene, actors and actress, film-makers, musicians. | ||
Observer Screen 23 Jan. 27: Movers and shakers such as Beatles manager Brian Epstein. | ||
Fever Kill 74: You parents were top line shakers and you were born on Fifth Avenue. | ||
Good Girl Stripped Bare 114: I’m doing a series of docos on movers and shakers. |
2. an attractive person, usu. female.
Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 82: She’s a fast little mover. | ||
(con. 1970s) King Suckerman (1998) 39: You gotta admit, she’s a mover. |
3. the person in charge.
Little Men, Big World 50: The Mover had said that to him once, and the Mover was right, as he always was. | ||
Layer Cake 115: He says the top mover from this side was a guy called Duke. |
4. (US drugs) a drug trafficker [move v. (5)].
Prince of the City 298: The four detectives had been trying to make a case against Manuel Noa, another major narcotics mover. |
In phrases
(Aus.) one who is a consistent success, e.g. as a womanizer.
Rooted III:iii: gary: So you’re a big mover with Diane, are you? bentley: Practically home and hosed. |