macho

Thân thiện

A man with a macho attitude lifts heavy weights at the gym.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Exaggeratedly or aggressively masculine: Used to describe a man who displays or emphasizes stereotypical masculine traits, often in an overt, assertive, or domineering manner. This can relate to appearance, behavior, or attitude.
   • Characterized by machismo: Pertaining to a strong sense of masculine pride, often associated with an emphasis on physical courage, virility, and dominance over women.

2. Noun:

   • A man exhibiting machismo: A male who embodies or displays the qualities of machismo.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • He adopted a very macho posture, refusing to show any emotion.
  • The film's hero was portrayed with a macho swagger and a dismissive attitude.
• Noun:
  • He's just a macho who thinks crying is a sign of weakness.
  • The culture celebrated the macho as the ideal male figure.

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a critical or negative connotation, implying that the masculinity displayed is performative, excessive, or toxic.
  • His macho facade hid a deep insecurity.
• It can be used ironically or sarcastically.
  • Oh, very macho of you to lift that all by yourself.

Variants and Related Words

• Machismo (n): The quality of being macho; strong or aggressive masculine pride.
  • The culture's machismo often pressures men to suppress their feelings.
• Machista (adj/n): (From Spanish) A person, typically a man, who exhibits or supports machismo.
  • His machista attitudes made collaboration difficult.

Synonyms

• Virile: (Often positive) Having masculine strength or spirit.
• Butch: (Informal, often related to appearance or lesbian culture) Having an overtly masculine appearance or manner.
• Hypermasculine: Excessively masculine.

Antonyms

• Effeminate: (Of a man) Having traits traditionally considered feminine.
• Meek: Quiet, gentle, and submissive.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Macho man: A direct, often emphatic reference to a man embodying these traits.
  • He tried to act like a macho man in front of his friends.
• Macho culture/code: Refers to social environments or unwritten rules that promote macho behavior.
  • The macho culture in some workplaces discourages men from taking parental leave.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. used of men; markedly masculine in appearance or manner

Noun

1. a male exhibiting or characterized by machismo

Từ đồng nghĩa

• butch