the man
nounEtymology Originally from US English.
1
The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations, as coordinated outside of one's control.
- Holonym: the System
- The man gets you down.
4 more examples
- I'm sorry I couldn’t meet you earlier, but I spent all night working for the man.
- It starts when you're always afraid / Step out of line, the man come and take you away1966 December, Stephen Stills, “For What It's Worth”performed by Buffalo Springfield:
- “Bitch, shut up that noise!” Cowboy hissed hotly from somewhere in the darkness ahead of her. “You wanna bring the man down on me or somethin’? […]”1968, Nathan C. Heard, Howard Street, New York: The New American Library, pages 22–23:
- Left a good job in the city / Workin' for the man every night and day1969, John Fogerty, “Proud Mary”, in Bayou Country, performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival:
2
An oppressive or domineering person of authority, usually male; especially, one's boss.
- Near-synonym: old man
3
The best man for a job; someone with exceptional skills.
- You’re the man!
- Buggin' Out: You the man. Mookie: No, you the man. Buggin' Out: No, I'm just a struggling Black man trying to keep my dick hard in a cruel and harsh world.1989, Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing:
2 more examples
- [Jake Delhomme] has been “The Man” ever since, leading the Panthers to a remarkable eight come-from-behind wins in what Fox describes as Carolina's “outhouse-to-penthouse” season.2004 January 31, George Kimball, “Super Bowl XXXVIII: Rags-to-riches story for Carolina Panthers quarter-back Delhomme”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2025:
- You're the man now, doll!2007 March 16, Capcom Production Studio 4, quoting Maya, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, Europe: Capcom, →OCLC, Nintendo DS, scene: Part 3: Investigation, Circus Entrance, level/area: Turnabout Big Top:
- Derived terms
- stick it to the man