errand boy
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A boy or young man employed to run errands, typically performing minor tasks and deliveries for an employer or business.
Usage
This term specifically refers to a male, often a youth, whose job is to carry messages, make small purchases, or perform other simple tasks outside the office or home. It describes a specific role, not the act of running an errand itself.
Examples
- Noun:
- He started his career as an errand boy for a local law firm.
- The shopkeeper sent the errand boy to deliver the package.
Advanced Usage
- The term can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe someone in a lowly position who is given trivial tasks.
- In the corporate hierarchy, the new intern felt like just an errand boy.
Variants and Related Words
- Errand runner (n): A more gender-neutral term for someone who runs errands.
- Gofer (n, informal): A person who is employed to run errands, from the phrase "go for" (coffee, copies, etc.).
- Messenger (n): A person who carries messages, which can be a more formal or specific role than an errand boy.
Synonyms
- Courier (for deliveries)
- Runner
- Office boy
Notes on Meaning
The term "errand boy" is somewhat dated and can carry connotations of a menial or junior position. In modern contexts, more neutral terms like "messenger," "delivery assistant," or "office assistant" are often preferred. The core meaning remains a person, specifically a young male, hired to perform small external tasks.
Noun
- a boy who earns money by running errands