jack-a-dandy

A jack-a-dandy strolls through the park in his fine clothes.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A vain or foppish man: "jack-a-dandy" refers to a man who is excessively concerned with his appearance and fashion, often in an ostentatious or showy manner. It carries a slightly dismissive or humorous tone, implying superficiality rather than genuine elegance.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He strutted into the room like a jack-a-dandy, his silk cravat and polished boots drawing every eye. (A man overly focused on fashionable attire.)
  • The young jack-a-dandy spent more time before the mirror than any lady of the court. (A vain, dandyish man.)

Advanced Usage

• "to play the jack-a-dandy": to behave in a foppish or vain manner.
  • He was always playing the jack-a-dandy, adjusting his coat and preening in public. (Acting like a vain, fashionable man.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dandy (n): a man who places particular importance on physical appearance and refined language and hobbies.
  • He was a dandy of the old school, with his monocle and walking cane. (A man known for elegant dressing.)
• Jack (n, archaic): a common name for a man, often used in compounds to indicate a type of person (e.g., jack-of-all-trades).

Synonyms

• Fop: a man who is overly concerned with his clothes and appearance.
  • The fop spent hours selecting his waistcoat. (A vain, fashion-obsessed man.)
• Popinjay: a vain, conceited person, especially one who dresses showily.
  • He was dismissed as a mere popinjay by the older gentlemen. (A showy, arrogant man.)

Related Idioms

• Dressed to the nines: wearing very fashionable or elaborate clothes.
  • At the ball, he was dressed to the nines, a true jack-a-dandy. (Extremely well-dressed.)
• A peacock’s vanity: excessive pride in one’s appearance.
  • His peacock’s vanity made him a jack-a-dandy in the eyes of his peers. (Overly proud of looks.)