flashman

A slick salesman or spin doctor.

A flashman just naturally tried to promote and show- off his company at every opportunity. Wasn't that what sales-PR was all about? Even the police departments engaged flashmen.

"They're all Los Angeles flashmen running this thing. Joe McDonald told anyone who'd listen that they're just a bunch of sleazebags opposed to everything we stand for, dragging show biz into it, and he was right."

A pimp.

Are not your favourite friends horn-boys and flashmen —

While loud her flashman cries, 'Arise, my ladybird, arise!'

A woman's boyfriend.

Her flashman, in her estimation, is ten times handsomer, certainly more acceptable.

c. 1833, Broadside Ballad, "My flashman has gone to sea". My flashman he's a Yankee, with his hair cut short behind

Someone who distracts the target of a thief; a confidence trickster.

"Stop your jaw, or I'll stop it for you, and teach you another time to know a gentleman from a flashman."

By not knowing it: the fellow's manners are so plausible and even insinuating, his appearance so gentlemanly, his voice so winning, that I suffered him to cheat me at Newmarket in the sale of a spavined horse, a regular screw, on the strength of which he claimed my acquaintance ; but as soon as I twigged that he was a flashman — one of the swell mob, I mizzled — gave him the cut direct.