barrel-chested
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of barrel-chested
First recorded in 1960–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He’s of average height, deep-voiced and barrel-chested and tends to respond to questions with questions.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
The barrel-chested, red-bearded Mr. McCourt appeared regularly on soap operas — notably “Ryan’s Hope,” on which he had a recurring role as a barkeep — and played bit parts in several films.
From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2024
He was a small man, barrel-chested and sweaty.
From Slate • Jan. 27, 2024
The barrel-chested leader is often shown playing ice hockey or working in his vegetable garden.
From Washington Times • May 15, 2023
The peculiar-looking man was of average height, but of an odd shape: Shadow had heard of men who were barrel-chested before, but had no image to accompany the metaphor.
From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
