house dick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSlang, dated, potentially offensive
Quick answer
What does “house dick” mean?
A private detective or security guard employed by a hotel to protect guests and property from theft and other crimes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A private detective or security guard employed by a hotel to protect guests and property from theft and other crimes.
A slang term for a private detective or investigator working for a specific establishment, originally and most commonly a hotel, but historically also used for department stores or large businesses. The term implies an investigator who works 'in-house' rather than being hired from an outside agency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American in origin and historical usage. While a British speaker might understand it from exposure to American media, it is not part of the native British English lexicon.
Connotations
In American English, it conjures a very specific, gritty, mid-century urban setting. In British English, if used, it would be recognised as an imported Americanism with those same connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern American English and virtually non-existent in modern British English.
Grammar
How to Use “house dick” in a Sentence
The [hotel/establishment] had a house dick.The house dick investigated the [theft/scandal].He was the house dick for the [Grand Hotel].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “house dick” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard examples; term is a noun]
American English
- [No standard examples; term is a noun]
adverb
British English
- [No standard examples; term is a noun]
American English
- [No standard examples; term is a noun]
adjective
British English
- [No standard examples; term is a noun]
American English
- [No standard examples; term is a noun]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in formal business contexts.
Academic
Only used in academic contexts analyzing historical slang, crime fiction, or film history.
Everyday
Not used in modern everyday conversation. Its use would be marked as a joke, a deliberate archaism, or a reference to old films.
Technical
Not a technical term in law enforcement or security.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “house dick”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “house dick”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “house dick”
- Using it in a modern, non-ironic context.
- Assuming it is a polite or standard term.
- Using it to refer to any security guard, rather than specifically an in-house detective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is dated slang. The second word can be considered vulgar in other contexts. Modern usage would be 'hotel detective' or 'security officer'.
Absolutely not. It is inappropriate for formal or modern contexts due to its slang nature and potentially offensive component.
Almost exclusively in early-to-mid 20th century American crime novels, films (especially film noir), or in historical fiction set in that period.
Yes, indirectly. 'Dick' as slang for 'detective' is believed to derive from the common abbreviation of 'detective' to 'tec', which then rhymed with 'Dick', a nickname for Richard.
A private detective or security guard employed by a hotel to protect guests and property from theft and other crimes.
House dick is usually slang, dated, potentially offensive in register.
House dick: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs ˌdɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊs ˌdɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DICK Tracy cartoon character working inside a HOUSE (hotel) as a private eye.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROTECTOR is a GUARDIAN (of the house). A DETECTIVE is identified by a SLANG NAME (dick).
Practice
Quiz
The term 'house dick' is best described as: