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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

man about town

Gwendolen also comes recommended by one of Nellie’s children, oldest son Niven, a James Bond-ish man about town.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2022

Will Smith was a man about town Sunday, celebrating his Oscar win with his wife and kids at an after-party, acting as if he hadn’t slapped Chris Rock.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 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

Meiklejohn glanced rather sharply at the lady’s companion, who, however, was merely a vacuous man about town.

From The Bartlett Mystery by Tracy, Louis