but-boy

but man

A man who stifles conversation or progress by constantly raising objections or complaints. A: "You fired Bill?" B: "Yes. I didn't want a but man like him holding our team back." Hey, this is supposed to be a brainstorming session. If you're going to just be a but man, you can leave. Al will always be a but man given his pessimistic view of the world.

See also: but, man

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

but-boy

n. someone, usually a male, who raises objections frequently. (The opposite of a yes-man.) I wish you wouldn’t be such a but-boy, Higgins. Can’t you ever agree with anyone?

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.