(dated) A person who sells sweets, especially a sidewalk or street vendor.
"There comes the candy-man!" exclaimed a little fellow, pressing up to the side of the lady. "Quick, ma! Here, candy-man!" calling after an old man with a tin cylinder under his arm.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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(chiefly, US, euphemistic, slang) A drug dealer.
"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.
“Sounds like he hit-up his "Candy Man" before that one. Uppers don't make you more competent or eloquent.”
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