blind tiger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Historical/Archival)Historical, Informal, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “blind tiger” mean?
An illegal establishment where alcoholic drinks are sold, especially during the Prohibition era in the United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An illegal establishment where alcoholic drinks are sold, especially during the Prohibition era in the United States.
A term historically used for a speakeasy or illicit bar, sometimes operating under the guise of a non-alcoholic establishment where patrons would purchase a 'ticket' for a sightless animal and receive a complimentary alcoholic drink.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American in origin and historical usage. In British contexts, similar establishments were more commonly called 'speakeasies' (an American loanword), 'shebeens', or simply illicit/illegal pubs.
Connotations
In US usage, it evokes a specific historical period. In modern UK usage, the term would be unrecognized by most or considered an obscure Americanism.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary UK English. Extremely rare and historical in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “blind tiger” in a Sentence
The [adjective] blind tiger was located [prepositional phrase].[Proper noun/They] ran a blind tiger in the [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blind tiger” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or sociological texts discussing Prohibition.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary speech; would be a deliberate archaism.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blind tiger”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blind tiger”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blind tiger”
- Using it to refer to a modern legal bar. Using it in present-day contexts without historical framing. Treating it as a general synonym for 'bar'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic historical term. You might encounter it in books or films about the 1920s Prohibition era.
They are largely synonymous, both referring to illegal bars during Prohibition. 'Speakeasy' is the more common and enduring term. 'Blind tiger' may imply a specific trick where a customer paid to see an animal and got a drink instead.
Using it in the UK would likely cause confusion, as the term is specifically tied to American history. The British equivalent from that time would be an 'illicit pub' or 'shebeen'.
The name likely originated from a loophole or trick. Establishments might display a 'blind tiger' or other unusual animal as an attraction. Patrons would pay to see it, and then receive an 'complimentary' alcoholic drink, thus technically not paying for the alcohol itself.
An illegal establishment where alcoholic drinks are sold, especially during the Prohibition era in the United States.
Blind tiger is usually historical, informal, archaic in register.
Blind tiger: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪnd ˈtaɪɡə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪnd ˈtaɪɡər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; the term itself is a historical idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'tiger' you can't see ('blind') because it's a hidden, illegal bar.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGALITY IS HIDDENNESS / A DECEPTIVE BUSINESS IS A DECEPTIVE ANIMAL.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'blind tiger'?