I know the meaning of this phrase. I'm just wondering how to use it properly.
I'm a man in the street.
Is it right?
I'm a man in the street.
Is it right?
man in the street
- Thread starter coconutpalm
- Start date
foxfirebrand
Senior Member
Southern AE greatly modified by a 1st-generation Scottish-American mother, and growing up abroad.
If you're talking about the "average guy," the anonymous but representative person whose opinion pollsters are always quoting-- then you need the definite article.
"I'm the man in the street." If you talk about a man in the street, you're referring to a literal case of some person, and "in the street" would be a little unidiomatic.
We have a similar expression that does use the indefinite article-- "a face in the crowd."
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"I'm the man in the street." If you talk about a man in the street, you're referring to a literal case of some person, and "in the street" would be a little unidiomatic.
We have a similar expression that does use the indefinite article-- "a face in the crowd."
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Thanks for your reply and the additional knowledge, fox!
One more question: if I want to describe myself as having regular features, not beautiful nor plain-looking, can I say I'm a face in the crowd, or the man in the street?
I would not adivse you to use these phrases to do the job of descibing yourself as a regular looking person. I don't think your meaning would be very clear since idioms like this are often quite narrow in their application. It sounds odd if people try to push idioms to fit in different contexts.
Thanks for your suggestion, suzi!
I think I would modify it, to "I'm just a man in the street." if you wish to imply that your opinions are not backed by special knowledge.
However, if you want to describe your features I'd suggest "I'm just the guy next-door." as most people don't have the most handsome of neighbours.
However, if you want to describe your features I'd suggest "I'm just the guy next-door." as most people don't have the most handsome of neighbours.
In addition to the above, you could also say "I'm just an average citizen."
Usually, when I hear the phrase 'man in the street, it's on a news report when the reporter is getting a reaction to a common problem or a recent occurrence from a passer-by; I don't recall hearing anyone describe himself/herself with this phrase. Perhaps "I'm just an average Joe" could be used in this context.
Usually, when I hear the phrase 'man in the street, it's on a news report when the reporter is getting a reaction to a common problem or a recent occurrence from a passer-by; I don't recall hearing anyone describe himself/herself with this phrase. Perhaps "I'm just an average Joe" could be used in this context.
Yes, I think "I'm just an average Joe" is good if translating to AE. that phrase isn't used much in BE. Here, we would say something like I'm just your average bloke. or Looks-wise, I'm Mr Average.
Bloke is quite colloquial.
Bloke is quite colloquial.
I'm a girl. Can I still use "bloke" or "guy" or "Joe"?
You can use "girl".
"girl-next-door". But I don't like grown women referring to themselves as "girl".
It does depend on the context and on who is using the word, but, basically it's because of sexism. When you have to suffer crap day in and day out just because of your gender, language becomes even more important. But, as I have said, it does depend on the context.
Generally, emma, I would agree that women shouldn't be referred to as 'girls'; however, "woman next door" sounds awkward, and after all, we did use "boy next door"...
Well, I am a girl. I'm 19. I may not call myself a girl when I'm 25emma42 said:
Thanks for your replies. I think I'm clearer about this problem.
Every woman I know would say "we're having a girls' night out", never a "women's night out". Doesn't sound sexist to me.emma42 said:
JD
Well it wouldn't, would it?
Seriously though, I know "girls' night out" is a bit of a set phrase. If no one else thinks there is any sexism in the language, I must be wrong.
Seriously though, I know "girls' night out" is a bit of a set phrase. If no one else thinks there is any sexism in the language, I must be wrong.
emma42 said:
I don't have a problem with it in certain contexts. Certainly, in the workplace it is inappropriate. In other scenarios, on the other hand, I'm not bothered by it at all, and in now less than a year, I'll turn #@&*%!
As for "girl next door," in the U.S. I believe there is a certain nuance (Hollywood-created) that speaks to the "girl next door" as being all sweetness and light. The girl next door is pretty, and has a certain innocence about her. She's not necessarily sophisticated or beautiful, yet she's well above-average at the same time.
I'd just say "I'm your average Jane," or "I'm fairly average."
Edit: This reminds me of the song "I Enjoy Being a Girl" from the musical "Flower Drum Song." Here are a few sample lines:
I'm a girl, and by me that's only great!
I am proud that my silhouette is curvy,
That I walk with a sweet and girlish gait
With my hips kind of swivelly and swervy.
Just part of the thread, Emma. The jist of Coconut Palm's original question and all answers to her question shall remain firmly planted here.emma42 said:
Those answers that delved into "sexism" in language, particularly about the use of "girl" for adults will make fine Culture fodder.
coconutpalm said:Well, I am a girl. I'm 19. I may not call myself a girl when I'm 25
Thanks for your replies. I think I'm clearer about this problem.
Of course you can Coconut Palm. You'll still be just a baby compared with an old matron like me.
But I still consider myself to be "one of the girls".
"There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle," as we say.
LRV
I wonder if the sexism issue is why, in my neck of the woods (East coast), "gal" has gained popularity in the last 20 years? Twenty years ago, if I heard "gal," I assumed a southern or western speaker, but not today.
One of the few American imports I used to enjoy (when I watched television rather more than I do nowadays) was the sitcom "The Golden Girls".
Their humour was great!
Dorothy: Hi, ma. Where are you going?
Sophia: To the boardwalk. I like to watch the old guys rearrange themselves when they come out of the water.
I suppose they were called "the golden girls" because of their mature years - real "golden oldies".
LRV
Their humour was great!
Dorothy: Hi, ma. Where are you going?
Sophia: To the boardwalk. I like to watch the old guys rearrange themselves when they come out of the water.
I suppose they were called "the golden girls" because of their mature years - real "golden oldies".
LRV
la reine victoria said:One of the few American imports I used to enjoy (when I watched television rather more than I do nowadays) was the sitcom "The Golden Girls".
Their humour was great!
Dorothy: Hi, ma. Where are you going?
Sophia: To the boardwalk. I like to watch the old guys rearrange themselves when they come out of the water.
I suppose they were called "the golden girls" because of their mature years - real "golden oldies".
LRV
LRV,
Now, that's funny!
Joelline
coconutpalm said:
I don't think people use the phrase 'man in the street' of themself, or of other people that they know. It is usually used of a hypothetical typical person. If someone really thinks of themself as an average person (and I'm not sure anyone does), they might call themselves 'ordinary'.