boy

All work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy).

something that you say which means people who work all the time become boring. You need to get out more in the evenings. You know what they say about all work and no play...

See also: all, play, work

a backroom boy (informal)

someone who does a lot of work in the type of job where they are not often seen by the public. Editors are very much the backroom boys of the film world. (often plural)

a blue-eyed boy (British & Australian, American & Australian)

a man who is liked and admired by someone in authority. He was very much the blue-eyed boy in the office.

the boys in blue (British & Australian)

the police. The boys in blue were round again last night, asking questions.

See also: blue

Boys will be boys.

something that you say which means it is not surprising when boys or men behave in a noisy, rude, or unpleasant way. He goes drinking on a Friday night and always ends up in a fight. Boys will be boys.

a golden boy/girl

someone who is successful and admired. Henman is the golden boy of British tennis this season. (often + of)

See also: girl, golden

jobs for the boys (British & Australian)

work that is given by someone who is in an important position to their friends or members of their family. They operated a system of jobs for the boys.

man and boy (old-fashioned)

all a man's life. I've worked down this coal mine man and boy.

See also: man

a mummy's/mother's boy (British & Australian, American)

a boy or man who allows his mother to have too much influence on him. Derek's a bit of a mummy's boy. He finished with his last girlfriend because his mother disapproved. He was often depicted as a weak-willed mama's boy with a domineering mother.

the old-boy network

the way in which men who have been to the same expensive school or university help each other to find good jobs. He admitted the old boy network had once existed in the company but said that things had changed now.

a rent boy (British)

a boy or a young man who has sex with other men for money. He spent a year in London working as a rent boy.

separate/sort out the men from the boys

if a difficult situation or activity separates the men from the boys, it shows which people in a group are brave and strong and which are not. You have to survive outdoors for three days and three nights. That should separate the men from the boys.

See also: from, men, separate, sort

a toy boy (British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal)

a young man who is having a sexual relationship with a woman who is much older than him. Sheila's gone out rowing with Dieter, her new toy boy. These movie stars seem to have a new boy toy every week.

See also: toy

a whipping boy

someone or something that is blamed or punished for problems that are caused by someone or something else. Television has been the favourite whipping boy of every social reformer in modern America.

a wide boy (British, informal)

a man or boy who tries to make a lot of money in ways that are not honest. He's a bit of a wide boy - I wouldn't get involved in any of his schemes if I were you.

See also: wide

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all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

it is not good to work all the time. You need to get out and have fun — you know, all work and no play.

See also: all, play, work

boy oh boy

I am excited or surprised to say. Everyone said it would be fun, so I went to the party, and, boy oh boy, was it great!

Usage notes: usually said to emphasize something good, but also sometimes used to emphasize something negative: I had a cold and, oh boy, I felt terrible.

boys will be boys

it is expected that men will behave badly. It's not enough to say boys will be boys, and then let them behave in whatever way they like.

one of the boys

someone who is accepted as part of a social group. He tried to be one of the boys, but he just wasn't interested in sports.

Usage notes: usually used to refer to a group of men who are friends or who work together

separate the men from the boys

to show which people in a group can do something difficult and which people cannot. The five-day camping trip next month should separate the men from the boys!

See also: from, men, separate