Man of the world, subs. phr. (old: now colloquial).—See quot.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Man of the world. A knowing man.
Man-Friday, subs. (common).—A factotum. [From the character in Robinson Crusoe].
Man-a-hanging, subs. (old).—A man in difficulties.
The man in the moon, subs. phr. (political).—1. A mythical personage who finds money for electioneering, and for such electors as vote straight.
1866. Totness Election Petition, 'Evidence of Mr. Rob. Harris.' I have had to deal with unknown gentlemen at Totnes before. A man in the moon is the natural consequence of a Totnes election.
1881. Contemporary Review, xxxix. 869. My labourers were paid in a public-house in the town by a man from behind a screen, who was invisible; after the fashion of the man in the moon, who pays bribes at elections.
1884. Graphic, 9 August, p. 123, col. 1. What would Mr. Schnadhorst and the Six Hundred say if they were deprived of their favourite occupation because a few weak-kneed fellow-townsmen had been caught pocketing the guineas of some man in the moon.
1889. Daily Telegraph, 25 Nov. Formerly bribery and corruption were personal. On or before the election day a mysterious stranger descended on the town, and took up his abode in a retired chamber of a private inn. The word was sent round, and there repaired to his presence quietly, and one by one, those undecided electors who were reported to have an itching palm. In many boroughs this stranger was called The man in the moon, perhaps on account of the 'silver lining' to the voters' pockets which resulted from his hidden rays.
2. (old).—A dolt. For synonyms see Buffle and Cabbage-head.
1621-3. Archbp. Laud, Sermons, p. 17 (ed. 1847). 'And all the Kings of the gentiles shall do homage to their King.' Good God, what a fine people have we here? Men in the moon.
If my aunt had been my uncle she'd have been a man (or had a pair of balls under her arse), phr. (old).—Said in derision of a ridiculous surmise:—'If wishes were horses, beggars would ride;' 'If pigs had wings, what lovely birds they'd make!'
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 167], s.v.
He'll be a man before his mother. See Mother.
To go out and see a man, verb. phr. (common).—To drink: an excuse for a glass.
The man in the street, phr. (common).—Everybody.
1868. Whyte Melville, White Rose, ch. xlvii. The moment the door closed, Burton's face assumed an expression of deep and friendly concern. 'Jerry,' said he, 'I didn't come here at early dawn only to tell you what the man in the street says.'
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Nov., p. 1, col. 3. The Swaziland question, which has been smouldering in Government offices and between the covers of Blue-books for the last twelve years, has reached the flaming point when the man in the street begins to turn round and look and wonder what is the matter in Swaziland.
1892. National Observer, 20 Aug., p. 355, c. 1. He tells you little or nothing that is not familiar to the man in the street.
To get behind a man, verb. phr. (common).—To endorse a bill.
The fruit that made man wise, phr. (old).—Copulation.
1605. Marston, Insatiate Countess, iii. I'll lead the way to Venus's paradise, Where thou shalt taste that fruit that made man wise.
