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Synonyms

good old boy

American  
Also good ol' boy

noun

Informal.
  1. a male who embodies the unsophisticated good fellowship and sometimes boisterous sociability regarded as typical of white males of small towns and rural areas of the South.

  2. a person who belongs to a network of friends and associates with close ties of loyalty and mutual support.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of good old boy

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

“Jimmy is kind of like a good old boy network. He’s not going to sway the boat too much,” Vasquez said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2022

“There’s the good old boy system, and we’re not a part of it,” one trooper, who remained anonymous, told the station in 2021.

From Washington Times • Jul. 16, 2022

In Texas, Swayze learned to dance, to compete, and when necessary, to kick good old boy ass.

From Salon • Aug. 16, 2019

The star, beloved for playing good old boy "Bo" Duke, earned a score of 18 out of 30 for his foxtrot with pro partner Emma Slater, in a tie for sixth place.

From Fox News • Sep. 25, 2018

Patrick's sister, Molly, had earned a commercial pilot's license before she settled down in Atlanta to teach English, married to a hard working good old boy.

From Joe Burke's Last Stand by Wetterau, John Moncure

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