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1man Listen to audio/ˈmæn/ noun
plural men Listen to audio/ˈmɛn/
1 [count] : an adult male human being
He was a shy boy, but he grew to be a strong and confident man. He's a grown man now. The movie is popular with men and women. He's a man of great talent. = He's a very talented man. a good/bad man
2 : a man or boy who shows the qualities (such as strength and courage) that men are traditionally supposed to have [count] Don't cry, little boy: be a man! A few years in the army will make a (real) man (out) of you! [noncount] Are you man enough to meet the challenge?
3 : a woman's husband or boyfriend [count] Who's the new man in her life? = Who's her new man? [noncount] I now pronounce you man [=husband] and wife.see also old man
4 a [count] : an individual human being : person
Time waits for no man. [=for no one] the differences between men [=people] and beasts/animals He believes that all men are created equal.
b [noncount] : the human race
prehistoric man It's not a fit night out for man or/nor beast. [=for people or animals] the problems facing modern man [=the human race in modern times] Senses 4a and 4b are now sometimes avoided because they are considered sexist.
5 [count] — used when you are talking to a man (chiefly US, informal) Hey, man, how are you? (old-fashioned) Pull yourself together, man! Okay, men, let's go out there and win! (US, informal) Hey, my man! It's good to see you! (chiefly Brit, old-fashioned) My good man, can you tell me where the railroad station is?
6 [count] : a male worker who goes to people's homes
The furnace man came to repair the heater.
7 men [plural] : a group of male workers, soldiers, etc.
The men have threatened to go on strike. He led his men into battle against overwhelming odds.
8 [count] a : a man who does a particular kind of work
a medical/military man
b : a man who has a specified job or position or who belongs to a specified category of worker — used in combination a councilman Has the mailman come yet? He's a shrewd businessman.
c : a man who works for or represents a particular person or organization
our man in Washington He spoke with the president's man.
9 [count] old-fashioned : a male servant — usually singular My man will show you to your room.
10 [count] a somewhat old-fashioned : a male student or former student at a college or university
He's a Harvard man.
b : a man who comes from or lives in a specified town, city, etc. — used chiefly by journalists One of the accident victims has been identified as a Boston man.
11 [count] : a man who likes something very much or who is known for some activity or interest
I'm strictly a vanilla ice cream man. [=I'm a man who likes vanilla ice cream]
12 [singular] a : a person who can do what is needed
If you need someone to help organize the files, I'm/he's/she's your man! [=I'm/he's/she's the person you need for the job]
b : the person someone (such as a police officer) is looking for
He matches the description, but I don't think he's our man. a detective who always gets his man [=catches the criminal]
13 [count] : one of the pieces in a game like chess or checkers
a fine figure of a mansee 1figure
as one man
old-fashioned, now usually used of a group of men : as a group : all together
The audience rose as one man [=everyone in the audience stood up] and cheered.
be/become your own man
: to be or become a man who is not controlled by other people or who is able to support himself without the help of other people
He left home and moved to the city to become his own man.
every man for himself
used to describe a situation in which people do not help each other and each person has to take care of himself or herself As soon as there was a crisis, it was every man for himself.
iron mansee 2iron
man of actionsee action
man of the hoursee hour
man's best friend
used to refer to a dog or to dogs as a group She devotes her life to helping man's best friend.
poor man'ssee poor
separate the men from the boyssee 2separate
the man
US, informal
1 or the Man somewhat old-fashioned : the police
He got in trouble with the Man and ended up in jail.
2 or the Man also The Man : the white people who are seen as having power in the U.S. : the white establishment
He got a job working for the Man.
3 : a man who is admired or respected as a leader or as the best man in a particular field, sport, etc.
The other players on the team all know that he's the man. You're the man! = (very informal) You the man! = (very informal + humorous) You da man!
the man in the street or Brit the man on the Clapham omnibus
: the ordinary and average person
What does the man in the street think about it?
the odd man outsee odd
to a man
used to say that all the members in a group of men said, did, or thought the same thing He worried that some of his friends might object, but, to a man, they supported his decision. [=all of them supported his decision]
to the last man
: until all the men in a group are killed, defeated, etc.
They vowed to fight to the last man.

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