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# gentleman friend

phrase (noun phrase: gentleman friend, gentleman friends; also «lady friend», «special friend»)

«gentleman friend» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, old-fashioned) a woman's boyfriend or romantic partner, especially an older woman's.
2. (literal) a male friend who is a gentleman.

### In the lessons

Polite, quaint and a little coy way to mention someone's boyfriend without saying the word; used by older people, in gossip and in humorous stories. UK, Ireland, US.

### Examples

- Great-aunt May has a new gentleman friend.
- Grandma brought her gentleman friend to Sunday lunch.
- "And who's your gentleman friend?" asked the neighbour with a smile.
- The village gossips talked about the widow's gentleman friend.
- Mum laughed and said "gentleman friend" was a very old-fashioned way of saying boyfriend.
- In the old novel, Miss Price's gentleman friend visits every evening.
- Her gentleman friend took her dancing.
- Gran says she's too old for a boyfriend, but she has a gentleman friend.

### Note

Trap: «friend» here means romantic partner. It can sound funny or teasing. Plain word: boyfriend, partner.