Philadelphia lawyer Hear it!

Philadelphia lawyer definition

☆ Philadelphia lawyer

Informal a clever, shrewd, or tricky lawyer, esp. one skilled in taking advantage of legal technicalities

Etymology: so named in reference to Andrew Hamilton, of Philadelphia, who obtained acquittal (1735) of J. P. Zenger from libel charges

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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