candy man

"candy man" is slang related to drug use: a drug dealer. If your teen uses it casually, it does not automatically mean they are using; many young people repeat drug slang they see in song lyrics, memes, or films without first-hand experience. However, repeated, context-specific use (talking about scoring, prices, plans for the weekend) is worth a calm, non-confrontational conversation. Ask open questions rather than reacting to the word itself, and check what they actually know about the substance.

"candy man" is informal English meaning a drug dealer. It is mainly used in North American English. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "a drug dealer" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "candy man" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.