gentleman's gentleman
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A valet; a personal male servant who attends to the wardrobe, grooming, and other personal needs of his male employer. The term implies a high degree of discretion, formality, and personal service, often associated with a traditional, upper-class household.
Usage
The term "gentleman's gentleman" is a formal and somewhat old-fashioned synonym for a valet. It describes a specific, private servant role focused on personal care, distinct from butlers or general manservants. It is often used in historical or literary contexts.
Examples
- In P.G. Wodehouse's stories, Jeeves is the quintessential gentleman's gentleman to Bertie Wooster.
- The earl traveled with his gentleman's gentleman, who ensured his clothes were perfectly pressed and his luggage was in order.
- He hired not just a driver, but a true gentleman's gentleman to manage his daily attire and appointments.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe someone who performs meticulous, personal services with great loyalty and discretion, even outside a domestic context.
- The executive's assistant was more than a secretary; he was a veritable gentleman's gentleman, anticipating every need.
Variants and Related Words
- Valet (n): The more common modern term for a gentleman's personal attendant.
- Manservant (n): A more general term for a male servant.
- Personal attendant (n): A broader, modern phrase for someone providing personal care services.
Synonyms
- Valet
- Personal man
- Body servant (archaic)
Antonyms
- Employer
- Master
Related Idioms/Phrases
- In service: A phrase describing the profession of being a domestic servant, which would include a gentleman's gentleman.
- His family had been in service for generations, with his father being a butler and he a gentleman's gentleman.
Noun
- a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer
- Jeeves was Bertie Wooster's man