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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

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

He was wearing a black warm-up jacket and black T-shirt, with a silver chain around his neck, gold hoops in both ears, a black baseball cap and a five o’clock shadow.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2021

The Customs officer was pale, even paler than Mom, with green eyes, auburn hair, and a five o’clock shadow.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram