guy
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big guy
1. A term of friendly endearment for a boy, man, or male animal. Aw, who's a good dog? Come here, big guy! Hey, big guy! How are things?
2. Literally, a large male. My brother is such a big guy that I'm never worried when he's around.
couldn't happen to a nicer (person)
Of an outcome, completely deserved by the person or people in question. Sometimes used sarcastically when referring to a negative event happening to an unpleasant person. Dawn and her partner are expecting their first child this summer. They're so excited, and it couldn't happen to a nicer couple. I hear that jerk Tony is heading into bankruptcy—couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
See also: happen
one hell of a (something or someone)
1. An exceptionally good, exciting, or interesting thing or person. Marty sure is one hell of a guy, always willing to lend his friends a hand! Two cars for the price of one? That's one hell of a deal!
2. An exceptionally bad or difficult thing, activity, or person. This is one hell of a math assignment—I can't understand the first thing about it! Boy, that is one hell of a haircut. You're going to go out in public like that?
one heck of a (something or someone)
1. An exceptionally good, exciting, or interesting thing or person. Marty sure is one heck of a guy, always willing to lend his friends a hand! Two cars for the price of one? That's one heck of a deal!
2. An exceptionally bad or difficult thing, activity, or person. This is one heck of a math assignment—I can't understand the first thing about it! Boy, that is one heck of a haircut. You're going to go out in public like that?
nice guy
A teenaged or adult male who is dependably friendly and compassionate, to the point of being seen as too boring, unchallenging, or uninspiring to be romantically involved with. I'm tired of just being the nice guy that no girl wants to date. I want to be seen as edgy, dangerous even—someone no girl can resist!
you guys
A friendly way of addressing a group collectively. Can be used for both men and women, or a group of both. A: "Hey, are you guys going to the concert on Saturday?" B: "Rick and I definitely are, but Jen is undecided."
See also: guy
as the next guy
As anyone else. A vague method of comparison. Sure, I'd love to go to the museum with you—I love art as much as the next guy! I like cheeseburgers as much as the next guy, I just don't want to eat one every day.
fall guy
A scapegoat; someone who takes the "fall" (consequences) for someone else. The jurors didn't believe that Mike actually murdered the victim. They felt that he was set up by his brother as a fall guy.
wise guy
1. One who is sarcastic or makes jokes in an attempt to seem witty, usually to others' annoyance; a smart aleck. Joe is such a wise guy that it's hard to know when he's being serious. Every class seems to have one disruptive wise guy.
2. A mobster. I wouldn't bother those shady characters sitting in the corner booth—they're all wise guys.
no more Mr. Nice Guy
An expression indicating that one is no longer going to behave in a pleasant, tolerant, or carefree manner. OK, no more Mr. Nice Guy. The next person to speak out of turn gets detention.
Mr. Nice Guy
A pleasant, tolerant, forgiving, or carefree man. Often used in the phrase "no more Mr. Nice Guy." OK, no more Mr. Nice Guy. The next person to speak out of turn gets detention. Everyone knows me as Mr. Nice Guy in the office, but I'll need to get tougher if I'm going to move up as a manager.
tough guy
A particularly strong, resolute, fearless, and independent man who does not show weakness or emotion and does not rely on or bow down to others. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. The best tough guys in cinema are those who aren't invincible, but find still find a way to win against all odds. John's always putting on this tough-guy façade, but I know that deep down he's a bit of a coward.
nice guys finish last
Those who are overly pleasant, considerate, or deferential will not be as successful as those willing to be more ruthless. Nice guys finish last in this industry—if you aren't prepared to step on a few toes, you're never going to get anywhere.
regular guy
A good-natured, dependable man. Oh, Earl will certainly help you with that—he's a regular guy. We're looking for a couple of regular guys to help with our project this weekend.
manic pixie dream guy
In film and literature, a male character who is depicted as a cute, quirky free spirit, and who is used solely or primarily to be the love interest of and further the personal growth of the (often disillusioned or depressed) female protagonist, rather than being a fully realized character. The term is an adaptation of "manic pixie dream girl," first used by film critic Nathan Rabin in 2007. I don't know if I agree with the assertion that Augustus Waters is a manic pixie dream guy.
right guy
1. The man who is best suited to be one's romantic partner. Don't despair about your breakup. I mean, look at me—I was nearly 40 when I met the right guy. The right guy is out there for you. You just have to be patient.
2. A man who is reliable and morally upright. Tom has proven himself to be a right guy. He's been instrumental in keeping the company running smoothly these last five years. Our first order of business is to show the jury that you are a right guy. That will make it harder for them to associate any sort of crime or wrongdoing.
smart guy
A sarcastic term of address for someone who is, seems, or comes across as overly cocky, condescending, or self-assured. A: "We're going to be here all day waiting for you to figure out that word puzzle." B: "OK, smart guy, then you figure it out!" Thanks, smart guy, I never would have figured that out without your help.
Mr. Nice Guy
a friendly, forgiving fellow. You II find that I am Mr. Nice Guy as long as you play fair with me. Oh, my boss is Mr. Nice Guy. He'll give me the day off, I'm sure.
Nice guys finish last.
Prov. You will never be able to get what you want by being kind and considerate. The unscrupulous salesman advised his trainees, "Don't worry if you have to lie about the product to get the customer to buy it. Nice guys finish last."
regular guy
a normal and dependable guy. Don't worry about Tom. He's a regular guy. He won't give you any trouble.
smart guy
someone who acts cocky or rude. All right, smart guy, see if you like this one. Some smart guy put chewing gum on this bench.
tough guy
a strong and severe man; a man who might be part of the underworld. He was your typical tough guy—jutting chin, gruff voice—but he was just our decorator checking up on the drapes. So, you want to be a tough guy, huh?
fall guy
1. A scapegoat, one who is blamed for the actions of others. For example, He refused to be the fall guy for his colleagues. This expression uses fall in the sense of "consequences" or "blame," which originated in prison slang. [Slang; early 1900s] Also see take the fall.
2. An easy victim, one who is readily duped. For example, His friends had marked him as the fall guy-they knew he would believe their ruse. [Slang; early 1900s]
regular guy
Also, regular fellow. A nice or agreeable person, as in Luke's a regular guy, or Hilda's a regular fellow. [Colloquial; first half of 1800s]
wise guy
An obnoxious know-it-all, a person who makes sarcastic or annoying remarks, as in the teacher was delighted that the worst wise guy in the class was moving out of town. [Slang; second half of 1800s] Also see smart aleck.
nice guys finish last
AMERICANPeople say nice guys finish last to mean that people who behave in a fair and pleasant way will not be successful in a competitive situation. Our culture rewards aggressive types — after all, we all know nice guys finish last.
no more Mr Nice Guy
used to suggest that you will stop being lenient and begin to adopt more severe measures.ˌMr ˈNice Guy
(informal) a way of describing a man who is very honest and thinks about the wishes and feelings of other people: He is famous for being football’s Mr Nice Guy. ♢ I’ve given them plenty of chances, but now I’ve had enough. It’s no more Mr Nice Guy!a ˈtough guy
(informal) a strong, independent-minded person who seems to be afraid of nothing: The most famous ‘tough guy’ in American movies was John Wayne.a ˈwise guy
(informal, disapproving, especially American English) a man who speaks or behaves as if he knows much more than other people: OK, wise guy, what do you think we should do then?fall guy
n. a victim; a dupe; the guy who takes the fall. (Originally underworld.) I didn’t want to be the fall guy, so I sat out the last job.
guy
n. a fellow; a man or boy. (Colloquial. Very old. Not necessarily male in the plural.) When you guys finish getting your makeup on, we can go back to the guys.
guy thing
n. something that appeals to men; something that men do. We just do it. We don’t know why. It’s a guy thing.
Mr. Nice Guy
n. a friendly, forgiving fellow. Oh, my boss is Mr. Nice Guy. He’ll let me off, I’m sure.
right guy
n. a good guy; a straight guy. Tom is a right guy. No trouble with him.
smart guy
n. a man who acts cocky; a wise guy. All right, smart guy, see if you like this one.
tough guy
n. a tough man; a man who might be part of the underworld. He was your typical tough guy—jutting chin, gruff voice—but he was just our decorator checking up on the drapes. So, you want to be a tough guy, huh?
wise guy
n. a foolish person; a smart aleck. (see also smart guy. Also a term of address.) Look, wise guy, mind your own business!
You guys bitchin’?
interrog. Hello, how are you? Tsup? You guys bitchin’?
See also: guy
girl thing/guy thing
Something particularly appropriate for or appealing to a girl or guy (woman/man). Girl Thing was the name of an all female British band popular in the late 1900s. This slangy sexist expression dates from the same period. For example, “The Monday night football games are definitely a guy thing,” or “Shopping for jewelry—that’s a girl thing.”
no more Mr. Nice Guy
Instead of being agreeable and amiable, I (or he, or she, or they) will be tough and uncompromising. This colloquialism dates from the mid-1900s, and is a modern, far more benign substitute for grant no quarter. It appears in numerous contexts and sometimes does not even involve a person, as in “The weatherman has stopped playing Mr. Nice Guy,” which simply means he is announcing a change to bad weather. Lawrence Block used it with more dramatic meaning in All the Flowers Are Dying (2005): “‘Get three [guns],’ she said. ‘One for each of us. No more Mr. Nice Guy.’”