Bootlegging
noun
The act of making, selling, or distributing goods illegally, especially alcohol.
During the Prohibition era in the USA, bootlegging became a common criminal activity.
Often appears as...
- bootlegging operation
- bootlegging alcohol
Usage tips
Historical
verb
To make, sell, or distribute goods illegally, especially alcohol.
He was caught bootlegging whiskey and was sent to jail.
Often appears as...
- bootlegging goods
- bootlegging alcohol
Usage tips
Legal
noun
The method of recording or videotaping a live performance or broadcast without permission, then selling the recording.
He made some extra money by bootlegging concerts and selling the recordings.
Often appears as...
- bootlegging concerts
- bootlegging film
Usage tips
Informal
Music, Media
noun
The act of making, selling, or distributing goods illegally, especially alcohol.
During the Prohibition era in the USA, bootlegging became a common criminal activity.
Often appears as...
- bootlegging operation
- bootlegging alcohol
Usage tips
Historical
verb
To make, sell, or distribute goods illegally, especially alcohol.
He was caught bootlegging whiskey and was sent to jail.
Often appears as...
- bootlegging goods
- bootlegging alcohol
Usage tips
Legal
noun
The method of recording or videotaping a live performance or broadcast without permission, then selling the recording.
He made some extra money by bootlegging concerts and selling the recordings.
Often appears as...
- bootlegging concerts
- bootlegging film
Usage tips
Informal
Music, Media
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Historical significance
Understanding Prohibition helps grasp why 'bootlegging' often implies alcohol.
History classes cover bootlegging's role during Prohibition.
Pro Tip 2/3Crime connotation
'Bootlegging' conveys a sense of illegality beyond just alcohol.
Bootlegging designer bags can lead to arrest.
Pro Tip 3/3Not just selling
The term also includes making and distributing illegal goods.
He ran a bootlegging operation, creating fake merchandise.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical significance
Understanding Prohibition helps grasp why 'bootlegging' often implies alcohol.
History classes cover bootlegging's role during Prohibition.
Pro Tip 2/3Crime connotation
'Bootlegging' conveys a sense of illegality beyond just alcohol.
Bootlegging designer bags can lead to arrest.
Pro Tip 3/3Not just selling
The term also includes making and distributing illegal goods.
He ran a bootlegging operation, creating fake merchandise.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical significance
Understanding Prohibition helps grasp why 'bootlegging' often implies alcohol.
History classes cover bootlegging's role during Prohibition.
Pro Tip 2/3Crime connotation
'Bootlegging' conveys a sense of illegality beyond just alcohol.
Bootlegging designer bags can lead to arrest.
Pro Tip 3/3Not just selling
The term also includes making and distributing illegal goods.
He ran a bootlegging operation, creating fake merchandise.
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Video examples
Underworld, Inc. PIPE...
whoever said crime doesn't pay must have been doing it wrong the black market is back Morgan trading exploiting a desperate person and desperate people do desperate things carjacking it's cheaper in a cell vehicle and this is sell drugs bootlegging soon as you transport it as
Video examples
How does money...
that Capone had earned from illegal gambling, bootlegging, brothels, and extortion, would have served as evidence of his crimes. But the money was nowhere to be found. Capone and his associates had hidden it through investments in various businesses
Video examples
Underworld, Inc. PIPE...
whoever said crime doesn't pay must have been doing it wrong the black market is back Morgan trading exploiting a desperate person and desperate people do desperate things carjacking it's cheaper in a cell vehicle and this is sell drugs bootlegging soon as you transport it as
Video examples
How does money...
that Capone had earned from illegal gambling, bootlegging, brothels, and extortion, would have served as evidence of his crimes. But the money was nowhere to be found. Capone and his associates had hidden it through investments in various businesses
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
Out of the ashes of the Great War came the freewheeling cultural renaissance that was the Jazz Age, but the decade-long party of flapper dresses and bootlegging came to a crashing halt with the Crash of '29 - triggering the Great Depression and the New Deal that would help America get back on its feet, just in time for another, greater war.
Quote examples
Burton Cummings
Canadian Musician
There may be a new album, and there may not. Right now, we're encouraging bootlegging because there have been some great live things that ended up on the Internet. Rather than try to stop it, we like it. If nobody gave a crap about you, they wouldn't bother to bootleg you.
Quote examples
Kevin Plank
American Businessman
My first real business was bootlegging T-shirts - I was just a dumb kid. You go to a concert and pay $25 for a cotton T-shirt that says 'Rolling Stones,' 'Lollapalooza,' or whatever. On the outside they're 10 or 15 bucks. We were the guys selling them for 10 or 15 bucks.
Quote examples
Shepard Fairey
American Artist
One of the reasons I started my clothing line was because I went into an Urban Outfitters, and they were bootlegging my star logo on T-shirts.
Quote examples
M.I.A.
British Musician
Versace designs have always been bootlegged. Now it's Versace bootlegging the bootleg for the bootleggers to bootleg the bootleg.
Quote examples
Sarah Weinman
American Journalist
Out of the ashes of the Great War came the freewheeling cultural renaissance that was the Jazz Age, but the decade-long party of flapper dresses and bootlegging came to a crashing halt with the Crash of '29 - triggering the Great Depression and the New Deal that would help America get back on its feet, just in time for another, greater war.
Quote examples
Burton Cummings
Canadian Musician
There may be a new album, and there may not. Right now, we're encouraging bootlegging because there have been some great live things that ended up on the Internet. Rather than try to stop it, we like it. If nobody gave a crap about you, they wouldn't bother to bootleg you.
Quote examples
Kevin Plank
American Businessman
My first real business was bootlegging T-shirts - I was just a dumb kid. You go to a concert and pay $25 for a cotton T-shirt that says 'Rolling Stones,' 'Lollapalooza,' or whatever. On the outside they're 10 or 15 bucks. We were the guys selling them for 10 or 15 bucks.
Quote examples
Shepard Fairey
American Artist
One of the reasons I started my clothing line was because I went into an Urban Outfitters, and they were bootlegging my star logo on T-shirts.
Quote examples
M.I.A.
British Musician
Versace designs have always been bootlegged. Now it's Versace bootlegging the bootleg for the bootleggers to bootleg the bootleg.
Example 1 of 5
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