legman
LowInformal, somewhat dated
Definition
Meaning
A person, especially in journalism or an office, who gathers information or runs errands by travelling to various locations, rather than working at a desk.
Informally, it can refer to anyone who performs the practical, on-the-ground legwork for a project, investigation, or organization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term emphasizes the physical, mobile aspect of the work (using one's 'legs') in contrast to a sedentary desk job. It can sometimes carry a connotation of being a junior or auxiliary role.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is historically more established in American English, particularly in the context of 20th-century newsrooms.
Connotations
In both varieties, it evokes a pre-digital, 'shoe-leather' era of reporting or fieldwork. In American usage, it may be more readily recognized.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. It is rarely used in contemporary British English, where terms like 'researcher' or 'field reporter' are more common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
legman for [organisation/person]legman on [story/case]work as a legmanVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to do/perform] the legwork”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously to refer to an employee who collects data or samples in the field.
Academic
Very rare. Not a standard academic term.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might be understood in the context of discussing old films or books about journalism.
Technical
Used historically in journalism and some detective/police work to denote a specific role.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The boss needs a legman to take this package across town.
- Before the internet, every newspaper had several legmen who gathered facts from the streets.
- He started his career as a legman for a famous columnist, chasing down leads and interviewing witnesses.
- The investigative team comprised a lead writer, a data analyst, and two dedicated legmen who verified the story's details on location.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a journalist with strong LEGs, running (as a MAN) around the city to chase a story.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION ACQUISITION IS A PHYSICAL JOURNEY (requiring someone to travel).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid a direct calque like 'человек-нога'. The concept is better captured by 'репортёр, собирающий информацию на месте', 'полевой помощник', or 'посыльный'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'legman' as a slang term for a man who admires women's legs (hyphen usually clarifies: 'leg-man').
- Using it in formal contemporary contexts.
- Spelling as two separate words 'leg man' when referring to the occupational role (though historically variant).
Practice
Quiz
In which profession was the term 'legman' most historically prevalent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The term is not inherently sexist, as 'man' was historically used in a generic sense. However, in modern, inclusive language, gender-neutral terms like 'field reporter', 'runner', or 'researcher' are often preferred.
No, 'legman' is exclusively a noun. The related activity is described by the noun 'legwork' or the phrasal verb 'to leg it' (to walk or run quickly).
A legman is typically employed directly by an organization to gather raw information. A stringer is usually a freelance journalist paid per story or piece ('string'), who may do both legwork and writing.
It is very rare in contemporary usage. It survives mainly in historical contexts, discussions of old media, or as a self-consciously retro term. 'Field agent', 'onsite assistant', or 'mobile researcher' are more common modern equivalents.