plumber's helper

American  

noun

1. plunger.

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Etymology

Origin of plumber's helper

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Example Sentences

David managed to find work as a plumber's helper, carrying his tools and assisting him in a number of ways.

From Literature

There are no IDs in the film, but Curry said that the man who is seen rushing the stage and being pummeled by Bund members was Isidor Greenbaum, a plumber’s helper from Brooklyn, who was arrested for disturbing the peace and fined $25.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think this interview is a little premature,” he said, adding, “I don’t know, maybe after this is over, I’ll go back to Washington and be a plumber’s helper again.”

From New York Times

Mr. Spoor helped the family financially by mowing lawns, shoveling snow, digging ditches, loading watermelons and as a plumber’s helper.

From Washington Post

One of a growing number of novices in the trade, he had allowed romanticism to overtake him a couple of years ago, chased the ghost of Thornton Wilder across the continent, and set himself up as a country squire, the possessor of a first-edition mortgage�Bob Newhart with a plumber's helper.

From Time Magazine Archive