fancy man
/'fænsi'mæn/
Definition
- Noun:
- A woman's lover: A man who is romantically or sexually involved with a woman, often implying he is not her husband. This usage can be dated or informal.
- A pimp; a man who procures clients for a prostitute: A man who lives off the earnings of a prostitute or prostitutes. This is a slang term, considered offensive.
Usage Examples
- Noun (as a lover):
- She was seen at the opera with her fancy man.
- The gossip was all about the widow and her new fancy man.
- Noun (as a pimp):
- The police arrested the fancy man who controlled several women on that street.
- He was nothing but a fancy man, living off the immoral earnings of others.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used pejoratively or judgmentally, especially in older or more conservative contexts, to criticize a woman's extramarital relationship.
- When meaning "pimp," it is specifically associated with British slang, though it is understood in other English-speaking regions.
Variants and Related Words
- Ponce: (noun, chiefly British slang) A pimp; a man who lives off a prostitute's earnings. This is a direct synonym for the second meaning.
- Paramour: (noun) A lover, especially one in an illicit relationship. This is a more formal synonym for the first meaning.
- Gigolo: (noun) A man who is paid to be a romantic companion or lover. This shares connotations of being financially supported.
Synonyms
- For "lover": beau, boyfriend, lover, paramour.
- For "pimp": pander, procurer, pimp (standard term), ponce (British).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Not applicable, as "fancy man" is a noun phrase.
Related Idioms
- To keep a fancy man: To have a lover, typically implying secrecy or illicit nature.
- Rumour had it she was keeping a fancy man in the city.
- To be someone's fancy man: To be identified as someone's lover, often with a dismissive tone.
- He's just her fancy man; don't expect him to be at family events.
Noun
-
a woman's lover
-
someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce)