Drugstore cowboy
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
A person dressed like an experienced cowboy without having the experience, or a fashionable young loafer who lingers in public places. Dated and disparaging. It can criticize either false Western authenticity or idle, showy loitering; context should make the intended sense clear. Regional use: American English.
Origin
The American slang compound arose in the early 20th century, when a drugstore and its soda fountain could serve as a conspicuous social meeting place. Dictionaries preserve two linked targets: the imitation Westerner whose clothes outrun his ranch experience, and the idle young man who loiters in or near drugstores. Dating varies by lexicographical evidence: Collins places the word in 1905-10, while Merriam-Webster's first-known use is 1923. The 1989 film title reused an established expression and did not originate it.
Research Sources
Variants
- Drugstore cowpuncher
Usage Examples
- With spotless boots and no idea how to saddle a horse, he looked like a drugstore cowboy.
- The detective found the drugstore cowboys leaning beside the soda counter every afternoon.
- Locals dismissed the visiting promoter as a drugstore cowboy in an oversized hat.