man in the moon
Americannoun
noun
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the moon when considered to resemble the face of a man
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(in folklore and nursery rhyme) a character dwelling in the moon
Etymology
Origin of man in the moon
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325
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.
The brightness difference between these two materials forms the familiar "man in the moon" face or "rabbit picking rice" image to the naked eye.
From Salon • Sep. 24, 2023
Did it hurt the man in the moon when a rocket flew into his eye?
From New York Times • Feb. 19, 2019
When I see a scowling man in the moon, or you see clouds that remind you of fluffy lambs, our brains are making the world a more diverse and beautiful place.
From Slate • Sep. 16, 2014
In addition to the ubiquitous man in the moon, many enduring legends around the world describe a rabbit or hare in the moon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 21, 2012
He stared into the face of the man in the moon.
From "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
