shamus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Have the world-weary shamus and the former Aztec capital lost their noir juju?

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2025

The heroes are typically amateur or private detectives, possibly quirky, often women, sometimes a couple; they aren’t likely to suffer the afflictions common to the hard-boiled shamus — depression, rage, alcoholism, untreated trauma.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2022

With a cheap business card and an equally cheap jacket and tie, he smilingly ambles it into the shamus role, knocking on doors and sniffing out leads among all the yammer and serviceable visuals.

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2018

K does his grim job thoroughly and without complaint, showing the weary, cynical patience of an old-time shamus.

From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2017

I've got friends in PIB—real friends, not the shamus crowd you're acquainted with that'll take you for your last nickel and then leave you to starve.

From Bear Trap by Nourse, Alan Edward