ghost rider
Definition
A supernatural entity typically depicted as a motorcyclist with a flaming skull who punishes the wicked, originating from Marvel Comics.
A person who rides a bicycle, skateboard, or motorcycle without hands or without a visible rider; often used in the context of viral social media stunts where a vehicle is left moving while the rider exits.
A colloquial or slang term for a person who secretly performs work for someone else, often in an academic or professional setting, while allowing another person to take credit.
Examples
He tried to perform a dramatic exit from his moving car like a real ghost rider, but ended up chasing his sedan into a neighbor's koi pond.
If your essay on 18th-century economics sounds like it was written by a vengeful spirit with a flaming skull, your ghost rider might be a little too dramatic.
The local urban legend of the ghost rider is far less scary when you realize it is just Dave practicing his unicycle balance without using his hands.
Applying for a job as a stunt coordinator requires more than just a leather jacket and a penchant for acting like a ghost rider on the highway.