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View synonyms for man of the world

man of the world

noun

  1. a man who is widely experienced in the ways of the world and people; an urbane, sophisticated man.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of man of the world1

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50
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Idioms and Phrases

Also, woman of the world . A sophisticated person, experienced in social conventions. For example, You can discuss anything with him—he's a man of the world , or She's a woman of the world and understands these delicate issues . The first expression dates from about 1200 and originally meant “a man of the secular world” or “a married man” (that is, not a priest). Shakespeare applied this latter sense in As You Like It (5:3) where Audrey, at the prospect of marriage, says: “I hope it is no dishonest desire to be a woman of the world.” Henry Fielding in Tom Jones (1749) also echoed this earlier sense: “A man of the world; that is to say, a man who directs his conduct in this world as one, who being fully persuaded there is no other, is resolved to make the most of this.” By the mid-1800s the idea of sophistication had replaced this meaning.
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Example Sentences

Heads were thrust forth and greetings followed, some shy and low-toned, some with feigned man-of-the-world jauntiness.

Here is the campaign manager, business man and man-of-the-world.

It was the corollary that the knowing young-man-of-the-world always puts to such a case—that the woman had been my mistress.

Frank liked his man-of-the-world air and did not see the grins on the faces of many of the listeners.

Besides, jealousy does not belong to your easy man-of-the-world pose, which you carry so well in other respects.

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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.

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