peter pan
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun (Proper noun):
- The main character in a play and novel by J. M. Barrie: A fictional boy who lives in Neverland and has the ability to fly, famously refusing to grow up.
- A boyish or immature man: A term used to describe a man who retains or exhibits childlike qualities, irresponsibility, or an unwillingness to accept adult responsibilities, derived from the fictional character.
Examples of Usage
Noun (Proper noun - Character):
- In the story, Peter Pan teaches the Darling children how to fly.
- The actor played Peter Pan in the stage production.
Noun (Descriptive term):
- His refusal to get a steady job or commit to a relationship made his friends call him a Peter Pan.
- She grew tired of dating a Peter Pan who was more interested in video games than planning a future.
Advanced Usage
- "Peter Pan syndrome": An informal psychological concept describing an adult, often a man, who is socially immature and avoids adult commitments and responsibilities.
- Some articles discuss Peter Pan syndrome in the context of modern relationships.
Variants and Related Words
- Neverland (n): The fictional magical island where Peter Pan and the Lost Boys live, often used metaphorically to describe a state of escapism or perpetual childhood.
- His mind was in a sort of Neverland, detached from real-world problems.
Synonyms
- Man-child: An informal term for a man who behaves childishly.
- Free spirit: A person who lives life freely, unconstrained by convention (can have a positive connotation, unlike the often negative use of "Peter Pan").
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "To never grow up": To refuse to adopt the behaviors and responsibilities associated with adulthood. This phrase is the central theme of the Peter Pan story.
- In many ways, he has chosen to never grow up, just like his hero.
Noun
- the main character in a play and novel by J. M. Barrie; a boy who won't grow up
- a boyish or immature man; after the boy in Barrie's play who never grows up