good ol' boy

British

noun

1. a man considered as being trustworthy and dependable because of his ordinary and down-to-earth background and upbringing
2. ( as modifier )
  
  he was expected to bring some good-ol'-boy informality to the White House

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

That's a precious commodity in a sport where corporate stuffiness has crossed paths with the traditional good ol' boy business model.

From Los Angeles Times

Travis, a womanizing good ol' boy who lays on the Dixie charm with a trowel, instantly hones in on the more serious-minded Gabby.

From Los Angeles Times

"I want to be remembered as a good ol' boy who married a gorgeous lady and we had a great life together," Jackson says.

From Los Angeles Times

He spoke of fighting the corruption of the "good ol' boy system" so that working class people could get a fair shake.

From US News

After brokering the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with an iron fist and a good ol' boy smile, he managed to escape electoral backlash and trounce Barry Goldwater in the presidential election.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023