man about town

American  

noun

1. a socially active, sophisticated man who frequents fashionable nightclubs, theaters, restaurants, etc.; playboy; boulevardier.

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man about town British  

noun

1. a fashionable sophisticate, esp one in a big city

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man about town Idioms  

1. A man who frequently attends fashionable social functions, as in Fred is quite the man about town these days. This expression, first recorded in 1734, uses town in the sense of “a sophisticated place” as opposed to rural settings.

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Etymology

Origin of man about town

First recorded in 1775–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

man about town

Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, model Emily Ratajkowski is dating again, and the object of her latest affection appears to be none other than perennial man about town Pete Davidson.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2022

There was a cameo by the Italian-born man about town who had introduced Donald Trump to a model named Melania Knauss, the future first lady.

From Seattle Times ● May 7, 2022

He reported to camp in peak condition, ready to embrace a new role for his 30s: wizened clubhouse leader and debonair man about town.

From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2022

He's not exactly a man about town, so there's not much known about his food and drink choices.

From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2021

Cyril Arbuthnot, a smart man about town, unscrupulous in his methods, who sticks at nothing.'

From Non-combatants and Others by Dame Rose Macaulay

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