old man
old man — noun
1. someone's father — used especially when talking about or to your own father in a
someone's father — used especially when talking about or to your own father in a friendly or affectionate way.
Ezra's old man owns a small bakery on River Road.
possessive + old man for 'someone's father'
Adisa asked his old man for advice before buying the used car.
possessive determiner his + old man
When Tariq graduated from university, his old man cried during the ceremony.
My old man taught me how to change a flat tyre when I was sixteen.
文法句型
possessive + old man
用法筆記
Common in conversation and casual writing. More affectionate than 'father' but less intimate than 'dad'. Can sound dated to young speakers in some regions.
常見錯誤
2. a woman's husband — used in a friendly or slightly joking way.
a woman's husband — used in a friendly or slightly joking way.
Mira's old man works the night shift at the county hospital.
possessive + old man for 'someone's husband'
Heloísa and her old man bought a small house near the beach last year.
Nia's old man brought her a cup of coffee in bed this morning.
After twenty years together, Hana still calls her husband 'the old man'.
文法句型
possessive + old man
用法筆記
Always used by the wife about her own husband, not by outsiders. 'Her old man' in a third-person narrative could mean either her father or her husband — context clarifies. Distinguish from sense 1 (FATHER) by checking whether the speaker is referring to an older-generation male (father) or a same-generation romantic partner (husband).
3. a woman's boyfriend or regular male romantic partner.
a woman's boyfriend or regular male romantic partner.
Faisal is Adina's old man — they have been dating for nearly three years.
clause pattern: X is Y's old man
Is your old man coming to the barbecue on Saturday afternoon?
Sofia said her old man is teaching her how to surf this summer.
Nia told her friends that her old man works as a chef downtown.
文法句型
possessive + old man
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (HUSBAND) by context — this sense refers to an unmarried partner, while sense 2 implies a married relationship. In casual conversation the boundary can be blurry; speakers may use 'old man' for a long-term boyfriend as well.
4. a man in charge, such as a boss, manager, or the leader of a group.
a man in charge, such as a boss, manager, or the leader of a group.
Tyler asked the old man for Friday off to visit his sick mother.
the + old man for 'the boss'
The old man called a team meeting to announce the new project deadline.
If you want a raise, you will have to talk to the old man yourself.
The old man at the fire station has been a firefighter for more than thirty years.
- boss
neutral and widely used; can refer to either gender
- chief
informal; often used in blue-collar and military settings
- supervisor
formal term for a person who oversees work
文法句型
the old man
用法筆記
Always uses the definite article 'the', never a possessive. The speaker is usually an employee or subordinate. Can refer to a police chief, a military commander, a sports coach, or any male authority figure in a workplace or organization.