Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (orig. US) having links to someone influential, whether legitimate or otherwise.

1920		Ade Hand-made Fables 27: The highly connected Couple was certainly In Dutch on the Progeny proposition.
1959		G. Sparrow Great Swindlers 121: Luang Atawongse was extremely well connected [...] It was immediately clear that strong forces were behind Luang Atawongse .
1996		(con. 1964-65) B. Thorpe Sex and Thugs and Rock ’n’ Roll 137: ‘Joey the Hoon, as tough and connected as he finks he is’.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 22: Witty, glamorous, rich, connected.
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 9: I can really only entertain people who are somehow connected, who come to us quoted.
2006		G. Pelecanos Night Gardener 112: If they was men, shit, they’d be connected, and it would come back on you.
2010		(con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 23: She fucked old man Vignieri, she is connected.
2010		L. Redhead Thrill City [ebook] I may be out of the biz, but I’m still connected.
2011		J.J. Connolly Viva La Madness 79: Mort also had a few confabs with some seriously connected guys.
2012		T. Robinson ‘Last Call’ in Dirty Words [ebook] Regardless, anybody who couldn’t earn their own, said they’re connected. Or work for the mob.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Irish Fandango [ebook] Jack had arrested him once for [...] possession of a firearm, but Benny had been connected enough to walk away.
2018		I. Welsh Dead Man’s Trousers [35]: [A]h’m sorry aboot Danny… Didnae ken he wis connected.
2021		L. McInerney Rules of Revelation 145: Dont know if hes connected, doesnt look the part in fairness.

2. (US) being a member of an organized crime syndicate.

1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 20: He was a down cat and he was connected.
1995		(con. 1985–90) P. Bourjois In Search of Respect 72: My ‘connected’ Italian-American baby-sitter noted that the floors above the restaurant were the official meeting hall for high-level members of the Genovese clan.
2003		N. Green Angel of Montague Street (2004) 175: Dirt bag. Always claimed to be connected, but I never believed him.
2010		Codella and Bennett Alphaville (2011) 45: The last guy involved was the son of a connected guy, too.
2021		J. Ellroy Widespread Panic 76: Claire’s bad to the bone and calamitously connected.