repo man

American  

[ree-poh man] / ˈri poʊ ˌmæn /

noun

Informal.

1. a person employed to repossess or take back high-priced merchandise, such as motor vehicles or machinery, from buyers who have failed to pay.

   The specter of the repo man haunts many Americans who have fallen behind in their car payments.

   I haven't paid my bills in months, my credit cards are maxed out, and the repo man is threatening to come around.

---

Etymology

Origin of repo man

First recorded in 1960–65; see repo ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

repo man

In seconds, the veteran repo man dragged the blue SUV into the cool night.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025

What good are traditions if the repo man just took your blocking sleds?

From Washington Post ● Jul. 18, 2022

Released in 1992 on her album “Arkansas Traveler,” it paints a beautiful day in the life of an Angeleno traveling throughout L.A. on her motorbike, evading a repo man.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2019

John Heinkel, a professional repo man with a full head of graying hair and a small and scrappy build, hoists a Lime scooter on its back wheel, setting off the alarm underneath the scooter’s brake.

From The Verge ● Jul. 24, 2019

I’m just kidding about going all repo man.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 17, 2018