Meaning:

    Literally the phrase refers to a “gunman.” However, it is more often used metaphorically to describe anyone who sits in examinations, or writes academic reports and dissertations for others for a fee. The governments have been trying hard to stamp out ghost test-taking, which is quite widespread around the country.

    Example:

    A: 你叔叔那么忙，有空写毕业论文吗？

    Nǐ shūshū nàme máng, yǒu kòng xiě bìyè lùnwén ma?

    Your uncle is so busy. Does he have time to write a dissertation?

    B: 当然没有，他是大老板，就是买个博士头衔，论文是枪手写的。

    Dāngrán méiyǒu, tā shì dà lǎobǎn, jìushì mǎi gè bóshì tóuxián, lùnwén shì qiāngshǒu xiě de。

    Of course not. He’s a tycoon who wants to buy a doctor’s degree. A paid writer is writing his dissertation.