pigeon

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking

n. the meat of a pigeon used as food.

n. the flesh of the pigeon consumed as food, often referred to as squab when the bird is young.

“The restaurant served roasted pigeon with a side of seasonal vegetables.”

“The chef prepared a traditional salmi of pigeon, emphasizing the rich, gamey flavour of the breast meat.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · American English

n. a person who is easily tricked or cheated, especially in a scam.

n. a person who is easily swindled or targeted as the victim of a confidence game.

“The scammers were looking for a pigeon who would believe their story about the prize money.”

“The professional gamblers viewed the wealthy newcomer as a perfect pigeon, ripe for exploitation in their high-stakes game.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun British English · Archaic · Informal

n. someone's business or responsibility.

n. an idiomatic reference to a person's particular concern, duty, or area of responsibility.

“If he wants to waste his money, that is his pigeon, not mine.”

“The colonel made it clear that while the logistics were his pigeon, the tactical execution remained entirely with the captain.”

C2 · Proficiency Informal

v. to cheat or trick someone.

v. to deceive or swindle someone, typically through a confidence trick.

“He was worried that the street performers were trying to pigeon him out of his cash.”

“The plot involved a sophisticated attempt to pigeon the investors by presenting fraudulent geological reports.”