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# the man upstairs

phrase (noun phrase, «the man upstairs», also «the Man Upstairs»)

«the man upstairs» 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, everyday) God.
2. (literal) a man who lives on the floor above.
3. (informal) the boss of a company.

### In the lessons

A friendly, informal way to name God without sounding very religious; heard in sport, country songs, and family talk in the US, the UK and elsewhere. It shows trust, gratitude or a joke. The literal neighbour sense is common in flats.

### Examples

- (sport) He pointed up and thanked the man upstairs for the goal.
- Grandma says it's up to the man upstairs now.
- (chat) only the man upstairs knows if i passed
- (song) I've got a friend in the man upstairs.
- (literal) The man upstairs plays the drums at midnight!
- (office) We'll need the man upstairs to agree.
- (story) "When the man upstairs calls me, I'll be ready," said the old sailor.

### Note

Trap: in a block of flats it may really be the neighbour above. As a name for God it is casual; at church say «God» or «the Lord». Same as «the big guy upstairs».