Traditional
Somewhat dated
Definition
A small-time confidence trickster or spruiker of dodgy goods.
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Where "Illywhacker" Comes From
An illywhacker is a small-time confidence trickster or spruiker of dodgy goods — someone who talks a good game to sell you something you probably shouldn't buy. Its exact origin is genuinely obscure.
The word owes its modern fame to Peter Carey's 1985 Booker-shortlisted novel Illywhacker, about a lifelong con man narrator, which brought this obscure old term roaring back into everyday use.
Example Sentence
Don't trust him — he's a bit of an illywhacker.
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used for anyone running a small-time scam or dodgy sales pitch, from a shady market stallholder to a smooth-talking salesman.
Carries a wry, almost admiring tone — more “cheeky con artist” than genuine menace.
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