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ILE Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

A rag-and-bone man

How do we call the person who collects unwanted household items and sells them to merchants?

A rag-and-bone man? If yes, is it a phrase that used in both U.K. and U.S?

(In Singapore, we called that person a Karang guni man.)

Thanks.

Isabelle
  

Top answer

I'm haven't heard of "rag-and-bone man" in the US, but there are similar words: waste picker / rag picker / scavenger = someone who collects waste or things to recycle for themselves or to sell dumpster diver = someone who goes into large trash containers (dumpsters) to find things to use or sell (or even eat)

— Lakshwadeep

  • I'm haven't heard of "rag-and-bone man" in the US, but there are similar words: waste picker / rag picker / scavenger = someone who collects waste or things to recycle for themselves or to sell dumpster diver = someone who goes into large trash containers (dumpsters) to find things to use or sell (or even eat)
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3 Answers
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I'm haven't heard of "rag-and-bone man" in the US, but there are similar words:

waste picker / rag picker / scavenger = someone who collects waste or things to recycle for themselves or to sell

dumpster diver = someone who goes into large trash containers (dumpsters) to find things to use or sell (or even eat)
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A rag-and-bone man?

Nope. Doesn't ring any bells. We don't say that in the U.S.

CJ
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@Lakshwadeep, thanks for the list of words.

@CJ, in this case, which is the most commonly used phrase to describe a man who collects unwanted household items and sells them to merchants in U.S? A waste picker or a rag picker or a scavenger?

Thanks.

Isabelle
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