the.com/middleman
the toll booth on the road between maker and buyer.
means a person or business that connects a seller and a buyer, usually for a cut of the value moving between them.
from from middle plus man, popularized in 19th century trade english to describe brokers standing between producers and markets, back when standing between two parties for profit needed a name.
oldest exampletraders on the silk road, literally
internet promisewas supposed to remove them, mostly added more
favorite insultcutting them out became a business slogan