Idiom idiom
Artful Dodger
Slang Cockney rhyming slang · East London
Meaning
lodger
Examples
“He is such an artful dodger when he owes me money.”
“The politician acted like an artful dodger, avoiding every direct question about the budget scandal.”
“Known as an artful dodger in legal circles, the lawyer managed to evade the judge's inquiries with clever, evasive rhetoric.”
Origin
first recorded 19th c.
first recorded 19th c.
From the nickname of a skillful young pickpocket and rascal in Oliver Twist (1838) by Charles Dickens.
Anchors to
Last updated April 28, 2026