men
- Noun (plural of 'man'):
- Adult male human beings: The plural form of 'man', referring specifically to multiple adult human males.
- Human beings in general; people: Used to refer to human beings collectively, often in a historical or generic sense.
- Members of a group, especially soldiers or workers: Refers to the members, particularly the personnel or workforce, of an organization, team, or military unit.
Adult male human beings:
- The two men were talking outside the shop.
- Several men volunteered to help with the heavy lifting.
Human beings in general; people:
- All men are created equal. (This usage is now often replaced by more inclusive terms like 'people' or 'humans'.)
- Prehistoric men used simple tools.
Members of a group:
- The officer commanded his men to advance.
- The factory employs over five hundred men and women.
"Men of letters": Scholars or writers.
- The 18th century was a golden age for men of letters.
"Men at work": A phrase used as a warning sign to indicate that workers are present on a road or site.
- We had to slow down because of a men at work sign.
"To separate the men from the boys": To distinguish the experienced, competent, or courageous people from the inexperienced or weak.
- This difficult project will really separate the men from the boys.
- Man (n, sing.): The singular form. An adult male human; a human being.
- Manhood (n): The state or period of being a man; the qualities traditionally associated with men.
- Manly (adj): Having qualities traditionally associated with men, such as strength and courage.
- Males: Individuals of the male sex.
- Gentlemen: A polite term for men.
- Personnel: People employed in an organization or a military force.
- Workforce: The people engaged in or available for work.
Note: As 'men' is a plural noun, it does not form phrasal verbs itself. The base form 'man' can. - Man up (v, informal): Behave in a way typical of a traditional man, especially by being brave or stopping complaining. - He needs to man up and take responsibility.
Men in suits: A sometimes critical term for businessmen, bureaucrats, or officials, seen as conventional and powerful.
- The decision was made by men in suits who don't understand the local community.
A man's man: A man who enjoys activities traditionally associated with men and is popular with other men.
- He loves sports and cars—he's a real man's man.
Dead men's shoes: Used to refer to a position or inheritance that only becomes available when the person currently holding it dies.
- He's waiting for dead men's shoes to get a promotion.
- the force of workers available