PhrasesHub

Stool pigeon

    Definitions

      • informer or traitor
        Refers to a person who provides information to the authorities, often betraying their friends or associates

      • decoy or bait
        Describes a person who is used to lure others into a trap or to gather information for a specific purpose

    Examples of Stool pigeon

    • The detective refused to believe the testimony of the stool pigeon who claimed to have witnessed the crime.

      In this context, "stool pigeon" is used to refer to someone who is a police informant or snitch. The detective was skeptical of the informant's credibility, as "stool" can also be a slang term for a toilet, implying that the informant may be unreliable or "flushing out" false information.

    • My best friend turned out to be a stool pigeon for the FBI, betraying our secret plans to the authorities.

      In this example, the phrase "stool pigeon" takes on a negative connotation, as the friend's actions are considered to be disloyal and dishonest. The use of "stool" in this context highlights the idea that the informant was willing to "sell out" or "rat out" their own friends to gain favor with the authorities.

    • The witness claimed to have heard a gunshot followed by the sound of footsteps, but the police dismissed him as a stool pigeon trying to create a false lead.

      Here, the phrase "stool pigeon" is used metaphorically to suggest that the witness may be intentionally providing false information. The use of "stool" in this context implies that the witness is attempting to deceive the police, much as a pigeon might be trained to "perch" on a "stool" in order to be fed seeds by a trainer.

    • The politician's spokesperson denied that her boss had accepted any bribes or kickbacks, dismissing the allegations as the dubious claims of a stool pigeon trying to smear their reputation.

      This example illustrates the use of "stool pigeon" in a more abstract sense, as the politician's accuser is not directly involved in the criminal activity. However, the use of "stool" in this context reinforces the idea that the accuser's claims may be unreliable or misleading, similar to the way a pigeon might be trained to provide false information in order to incriminate others.

    • The detective had a stool pigeon in his network who provided him with insider information about the criminal's next move.

      In this example, "stool pigeon" is being used as a slang term for a person who becomes an informant or a police spy in exchange for some benefit, such as being released from prison or being given a lighter sentence. The term "stool" refers to the style of sitting on a bar stool while providing information to the police.

    • The reporter's source turned out to be a stool pigeon who was sentenced to prison for a previous crime and was seeking reduction in his sentence by providing information to the authorities.

      In this example, "stool pigeon" is used to describe a criminal or a prisoner who becomes an informant in exchange for some benefit. The term "stool" is used because the criminal often sits on a bar stool while providing information to the police in bars or taverns.

    • The politician's campaign manager was exposed as a stool pigeon who leaked sensitive information to the opposition party in order to gain political favor.

      In this example, "stool pigeon" is used to describe a person who becomes a police spy or an informant for the sake of personal gain or political advantage. The term "stool" refers to the style of sitting on a bar stool and providing information to the police in bars or taverns.

    • The security guard caught the thief red-handed and called the police, but the thief managed to slip away because he had a stool pigeon on the inside who tipped him off.

      In this example, "stool pigeon" is being used to describe a person who becomes a police spy or an informant in order to help a criminal evade capture. The term "stool" refers to the style of sitting on a bar stool while providing information to the police in bars or taverns.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "stool pigeon" has two main meanings, which both involve betrayal or deception. It can refer to someone who informs on others to the authorities, or it can describe a person who is used as bait or a decoy to deceive others. In both cases, it highlights the negative connotations of betrayal and dishonesty.

    Origin of "Stool pigeon"

    The origin of the idiom "stool pigeon" can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was used in the criminal underworld. The term "stool" was used to refer to a seat or chair, and "pigeon" was a slang term for a person. In this context, a "stool pigeon" was a person who sat on a stool or chair and provided information to the authorities about criminal activities. Over time, the term evolved to encompass the broader meanings of informer or traitor.

    The idiom has also been linked to the practice of using pigeons as decoys in hunting, where trained pigeons were tied to stools or perches to attract wild pigeons. This connection may have contributed to the secondary meaning of "stool pigeon" as a decoy or bait. Overall, the idiom "stool pigeon" originated in the context of criminal activities and has since become a widely used term to describe informers or deceivers.