What it means
Someone who plays the hard man only when it’s safe, usually chatting big in the work canteen or out on a fag break. They’ve always got a speech about how they’d sort the place out, have a go at the boss, or smash someone in a scrap. Moment management shows up, they’re suddenly quiet as a mouse. All swagger, no bottle.
Usage examples
"In the canteen he’s mouthing off like he runs the gaff, then the manager turns up and he’s scarpered to the bog. Classic canteen cowboy."
"Every break Steve is the loudest canteen cowboy on the floor, going on about how he would fire half the office, then the boss walks in and he is suddenly very interested in his sandwich."
"Ignore him at the smoking shelter, he is pure canteen cowboy, talks about confronting the landlord every Monday and has not paid his rent on time in two years."
"Kev turns into a proper canteen cowboy on lunch, banging on about how he'd tell the gaffer where to stick it, then nods like a dashboard dog when she actually asks him a question."
"He's fearless by the vending machine and useless in the meeting. Absolute canteen cowboy behaviour."
Where it comes from
This is real British military slang. The canteen was the safe little bubble where lads could talk themselves into legends over tea and fags. A canteen cowboy was the one chatting tough in there, then going soft when something proper kicked off. It spread neatly into civilian work chat after that.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
We look after this expression together
If they say it where you live and something is missing here, bring it. A magikito looks at it and adds it.
- An example
- Your patch
- Your voice