Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who hunts lions: This refers to an individual who pursues and kills lions, typically as a sport or for other purposes.
   • A person who seeks out celebrities or important people: This figurative meaning describes someone who actively tries to attract or associate with famous or socially prominent individuals, often to enhance their own social status.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The famous lion-hunter led safaris in Africa for wealthy tourists. (This refers to the literal hunter of lions.)
  • She was known as a relentless lion-hunter, always appearing at galas to mingle with movie stars and politicians. (This refers to the figurative social pursuer.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a slightly critical or humorous way to describe someone whose social ambition is obvious.
  • His reputation as a lion-hunter made some genuine intellectuals wary of his dinner party invitations.

Variants and Related Words

• Lion-hunting (noun): The activity or practice of hunting lions or of seeking out celebrities.
  • His lion-hunting in Hollywood circles was more successful than his actual career.

Synonyms

• For the hunter of animals: Big-game hunter.
• For the social pursuer: Social climber, celebrity hound, name-dropper.

Related Idioms

• While not a direct idiom, the figurative use of "lion-hunter" itself functions as a metaphorical idiom, comparing the pursuit of famous people to the hunting of a majestic and powerful animal.

Noun

1. someone who hunts lions
2. someone who tries to attract social lions as guests