Tom Jones en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
After the title character in The History of Tom Jones, written by Henry Fielding and published in 1749; now perhaps also influenced by the Welsh singer of the same name and similar reputation.
Meanings
-
(rare) A desirable man of loose morals, prone to having sex with many women.
All men are not Tom Joneses. The standard of masculine behaviour continues to go up: many of us make fine efforts to conform to it, and some of us succeed. But the Tom Jones is there in all of us who are not anaemic or consumptive.
1909, Jerome K. Jerome, chapter X, in They and I:You know he's not the king of Bedside Manor. He's not the Tom Jones who lives next door.
1992, Barenaked Ladies, “The King of Bedside Manor”, in Gordon:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Joneses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
lady-killer (desirable man of loose morals) · casanova (desirable man of loose morals) · Lothario (desirable man of loose morals) · Don Juan (desirable man of loose morals)