wheel and deal

Idioms  

1. Operate or manipulate for one's own interest, especially in an aggressive or unscrupulous way. For example, Bernie's wheeling and dealing has made him rich but not very popular. This term comes from gambling in the American West, where a wheeler-dealer was a heavy bettor on the roulette wheel and at cards. [Colloquial; c. 1940]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wheel and deal

This was the new “New York”; not just as far as the series was concerned, but in terms of the figures who wheel and deal within the city itself.

From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2025

Here the heroes are crafty general managers who wheel and deal, barter and sign and deploy their players like so many chess pieces.

From New York Times ● Feb. 15, 2019

Their ruthless hucksters wheel and deal like David Mamet’s salesmen in “Glengarry Glen Ross,” but wear more expensive suits.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 31, 2017

Music bigwigs wheel and deal at restaurants facing a festival theater built into the side of a mountain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2017

‘So let’s wheel and deal, Music Man,’ Leo said.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan