Definition

Noun: A grocery boy is a person, typically a young male, whose job is to deliver groceries from a store to customers' homes.

Usage

This term specifically refers to the occupation or role of delivering groceries. It is a compound noun where "grocery" describes the type of delivery work and "boy" historically indicated the gender and youthful age of the person performing the job. * The grocery boy brought our order to the kitchen door. * He worked after school as a grocery boy for the local market.

Advanced Usage

• The term is somewhat dated and reflects a time when such delivery jobs were commonly held by teenage boys. Modern equivalents often use more gender-neutral and professional terms like "grocery delivery driver" or "delivery associate."
• It can be used figuratively to describe someone performing a subservient or errand-running role.
  • Stop treating me like your personal grocery boy; fetch your own coffee.

Variants and Related Words

• Delivery boy: A more general term for a young male who delivers various goods.
• Errand boy: A person, typically young, employed to run various small tasks and deliveries.

Synonyms

• Delivery boy
• Grocery delivery person
• Errand boy (in a broader sense)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning is literal, referring to the specific job.
• The figurative use implies a menial or subordinate task, often with a slightly pejorative tone when used outside the literal context.

Noun

1. a delivery boy for groceries