young man en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (UK) audio
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English yong man, from Old English ġeong mann; by surface analysis, young + man. Compare yeoman.
Meanings
-
A term of endearment or admonishment by adults for a young boy.
That does it, young man! You are excused to your room!
1985 November 28, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic):I can't understand you, young man. Can you point to which toy you want?
“Now you listen to me, young man!” Mom pointed a finger straight into my face.
2004, Warren W. Evans, Corky, Peggy and the Goldfinch, page 82:Hey, young man... don't walk on the kitchen floor. I just mopped over there.
2003 July 17, Tom Armstrong, Marvin (comic):Hello, young man, I'm Quincy's mother. I decided to drop by to see how his adopted family is treating him.
2004 September 21, Bill Amend, FoxTrot (comic):
-
(dated) A male lover; a sweetheart.
"Lane Coutell. He's only been Franny's boy friend for a whole year. ..." "The expression is Franny's 'young man,'" he said, "not her 'boy friend.' Why are you so out of date, Bessie? […]"
1957, J. D. Salinger, "Zooey", in 1961, Franny and Zooey, 1991 LB Books edition, page 96
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see young, man.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| young men | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (12)
bg младе́ж (term of address) · nl jongeman (term of address) · id anak muda (term of address) · de junger Mann (term of address) · fi nuorukainen (term of address) · ur نَوجَوان (term of address) · pl młody człowieku (term of address) · bg мла́ди чове́че (term of address) · fr jeune homme (term of address) · uk юна́к (term of address) · ru молодо́й челове́к (term of address) · pt mocinho (term of address)