Gentleman Jim

plural Gentleman Jims · plural Gentlemen Jims

1. informaluncountableusuallyA man, especially one named James, whose behavior shows him to have a polite, courteous, and respectable nature.

   Something puzzling: there were two Gentleman Jims in 71 Squadron.

   1982, Vernon Haugland, The Eagles' War: the Saga of the Eagle Squadron Pilots, 1940-1945, →ISBN, page 93

   3 more examples

   When Sullivan met Corbett at New Orleans, Gentleman Jim landed the champion a terrific jolt with his right, smiled sweetly and said, "To think, John, of your coming all the way from Boston to get that."

   1916, Elbert Hubbard, “Philip D. Armour”, in Little Journeys Vol. 11: Great Businessmen

   Mr. McCrery … was headed for defeat until his opponent, a state legislator named Foster Campbell, was injured in a car crash. Mr. McCrery pulled his advertising and became known as "Gentleman Jim," a label that fit a personality his consultants had tried in vain to revamp.

   2005 February 22, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, “In Eye of Social Security Storm, Quiet Power Broker Is Courted”, in New York Times, retrieved 16 Jan 2016

   Lewthwaite . . . was also regarded as ultra-reliable in defence, as well as a consummate sportsman, often referred to as "Gentleman Jim".

   2007 January 14, Dave Hadfield, “Obituaries: Jim Lewthwaite, Rugby league record-breaker”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 16 Jan 2016