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Meaning of poacher turned gamekeeper | Babel Free

Noun CEFR C1

Definitions

A person now charged with protecting what they formerly preyed upon.
figuratively, idiomatic
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see poacher, turned, gamekeeper.

Examples

“Ah! poacher turned gamekeeper! That be settin' thief to catch thief!”

“When President Roosevelt appointed Kennedy to the Securities Exchange Commission, he was acting on the "poacher turned gamekeeper" principle.”

CEFR level

C1

Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.

See also

poacher's gun poacher's pie poacher's pot Poachers Poaches poachiness