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• five o'clock shadow
  five o'clock shadow

  noun

  the rather dark stubble that appears on a man's face some hours after shaving, typically in the late afternoon if he shaved in the morning.
• five-o'clock shadow
  five-o'clock shadow

  noun

  beard growth visible late in the day on a man's shaven face

five o'clock shadow

American  

Or five-o'clock shadow

noun

1. the rather dark stubble that appears on a man's face some hours after shaving, typically in the late afternoon if he shaved in the morning.

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five-o'clock shadow British  

noun

1. beard growth visible late in the day on a man's shaven face

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Etymology

Origin of five o'clock shadow

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

five o'clock shadow five-o'clock shadow

PETALUMA, Calif.—Whiskers are spreading across American politics like a five o’clock shadow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

For years, the legendary Washington Post political cartoonist Herbert Block, aka Herblock, drew Richard Nixon with a menacing five o’clock shadow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2024

Simpson, whose flat stare and five o’clock shadow ended up on the cover of Time — albeit darkened unnecessarily by the magazine.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023

He sprinted - arms outstretched, tuft of hair protruding from his forehead like a five o'clock shadow - towards the bench to be embraced in the knowledge Brazil were world champions.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2022

A white five o’clock shadow crossed his face, and he looked tired, but he smiled.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

His lilting Boston accent revealed itself sparingly, and his five-o’clock shadow appeared sometime around 2:15.

From Slate ● Dec. 17, 2024

The goddess Nut, stylishly attired in a white dress with a red belt, appeared to have a five-o’clock shadow.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 20, 2016

"Formula 409 works great," said store owner Adam Rolnick, who had a five-o'clock shadow, wore black leather loafers with cargo shorts and did not seem to get excited easily.

From Chicago Tribune ● Jul. 12, 2011

He now sports a five-o’clock shadow with flecks of white, and, yes, he’s gained a little weight.

From Washington Post

My door slammed open, and in walked First Sergeant Anderson, a high school senior with an impressively premature five-o’clock shadow, a scruffy voice, and the posture and mannerisms of a bulldog.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore