bandit

[ban-dit] /ˈbæn dɪt/
noun, plural bandits or (Rare) banditti
[ban-dit-ee] /bænˈdɪt i/ (Show IPA)
1.
a robber, especially a member of a gang or marauding band.
2.
an outlaw or highwayman.
3.
Informal.
  1. a person who takes unfair advantage of others, as a merchant who overcharges; swindler; cheat.
  2. a vendor, cab driver, etc., who operates a business or works without a required license or permit, and without observing the usual rules or practices.
4.
Military Informal. an enemy aircraft, especially an attacking fighter.
Idioms
5.
make out like a bandit, Slang. to be extremely successful; profit greatly:
The early investors in the company have made out like bandits.
Origin
1585-95; earlier bandetto, plural banditti < Italian banditi outlaws, plural of bandito proscribed, past participle of bandire banish, exile, announce publicly < Gothic bandwjan to make a sign, indicate (cf. band1) with v. suffix -ire < Latin -īre
Synonyms
1, 2. brigand, desperado.
British Dictionary definitions for make out like a bandit

bandit

/ˈbændɪt/
noun (pl) -dits, -ditti (-ˈdɪtɪ)
1.
a robber, esp a member of an armed gang; brigand
Derived Forms
banditry, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Italian bandito, literally: banished man, from bandire to proscribe, from bando edict, ban1
Word Origin and History for make out like a bandit

bandit

n.

1590s, from Italian bandito (plural banditi) "outlaw," past participle of bandire "proscribe, banish," from Vulgar Latin *bannire "to proclaim, proscribe," from Proto-Germanic *bann (see ban (v.)). *Bannire (or its Frankish cognate *bannjan) in Old French became banir-, which, with lengthened stem, became English banish.

Slang definitions & phrases for make out like a bandit

make out like a bandit

verb phrase

To emerge very successfully; win everything: You'd make out like a bandit/ Some of the people who came on early were making out like bandits/ ''How did you make out?'' ''Like a thief''

[1960s+; based on Yiddish bonditt, ''bandit; clever, resourceful fellow'']


bandit

noun
  1. An enemy aircraft (WWII)
  2. An aggressive homosexual who often resorts to violence (1970s+ Prison)
Related Terms

like a bandit, make out like a bandit, one-arm bandit


Idioms and Phrases with make out like a bandit

make out like a bandit

Succeed extremely well, as in He invested in real estate and made out like a bandit. This expression likens other forms of success to that of a triumphant robber. It may, however, come from an intermediate source, that is, the use of bandit (or one-armed bandit) for a slot machine, which is far more profitable for the house than for gamblers. [ ; c. 1970 ]