Meaning of leg man | Babel Free

Definitions

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see leg, man.

Examples

“[page 136] This was my abrupt introduction to the system by which most of the live⟳ news is handled for the New York evening newspapers [...] Its continued use⟳ has bred up two distinct and separate⟳ types of news-specialists—the leg man, who gets the story, but rarely writes it; and the rewrite⟳ man, who writes the story but rarely gets it. [...] [page 140] City editors rail against these news combines, but it was the instinct of self-preservation that long ago drove the leg men into tight and fast organizations.”

“During the nine-month Great Lakes shipping season, the ore hogs—shovelers, "larry" car weighers, bulldozer operators, car pushers and "leg" men—unite⟳ in this miracle of supply⟳ that stock-piles enough iron⟳ ore to last⟳ through the winter. The leg man on a Hulett iron-ore unloader must possess⟳ a special blend of brawn, brains and a "go for broke" attitude. He must also be conscious of the safety of fellow workers below him as he deftly maneuvers a 75-ton vertical ramrod and iron-jawed grab⟳ bucket.”

“LEG MEN cover⟳ local events and phone the information to a rewrite⟳ man. The leg man must have⟳ a good nose for news and the ability to give⟳ information over the phone quickly and accurately. He seldom writes his own⟳ stories.”

“Of course newspapers have⟳ to have⟳ "leg men," especially for afternoon editions, who seldom write⟳ their own⟳ stories but have⟳ to telephone in facts to be hurried into type⟳ for press⟳ time. But leg men nowadays are expected to be literate, though sometimes barely.”

CEFR level