The Man Behind the Overused Phrase
Being a “tough guy” is something many aspire to be, but few reach. However, the phrase has been used so much that it has lost its meaning. How did the term come to be? Where did it originate? The answer lies with Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd – one of the most notorious American gangsters of the early 1900s.
The Early Years of Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd
Charles Floyd grew up poor in Oklahoma. At a young age, he was forced to work in the fields to help his struggling family. It was during this time that he developed his muscular physique. However, it was his scrapes with the law that earned him his tough-guy reputation. He was arrested multiple times for theft and burglary before graduating to bank robbery. By the early 1930s, Floyd was a notorious outlaw and was wanted by law enforcement across the country.
The Notoriety of Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd
Floyd’s notoriety reached its peak during the Great Depression when he became a folk hero to many who saw him as a symbol of standing up against the establishment. However, his criminal activities eventually caught up with him. In October of 1934, Floyd was shot to death by law enforcement officials in East Liverpool, Ohio. Despite his death, the legacy of Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd has lived on several decades through the popularization of the phrase “tough guy”.
So now you know – the phrase “tough guy” has deep roots and origins in the United States. Next time you hear it, remember the man behind it: Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, the original “tough guy”.
