the man

alternative the Man · alternative da man

1. singularsingular onlyThe oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations, as coordinated outside of one's control.

   Holonym: the System

   5 more examples

   The man gets you down.

   I'm sorry I couldn’t meet you earlier, but I spent all night working for the man.

   It starts when you're always afraid / Step out of line, the man come and take you away

   1966 December, Stephen Stills, “For What It's Worth”performed by Buffalo Springfield

   “Bitch, shut up that noise!” Cowboy hissed hotly from somewhere in the darkness ahead of her. “You wanna bring the man down on me or somethin’? […]”

   1968, Nathan C. Heard, Howard Street, New York: The New American Library, pages 22–23

   Left a good job in the city / Workin' for the man every night and day

   1969, John Fogerty, “Proud Mary”, in Bayou Country, performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival

2. singularsingular onlyAn oppressive or domineering person of authority, usually male; especially, one's boss.

   Near-synonym: old man

   Synonyms: old man

3. singularsingular onlyThe best man for a job; someone with exceptional skills.

   You’re the man!

   3 more examples

   Buggin' Out: You the man. Mookie: No, you the man. Buggin' Out: No, I'm just a struggling Black man trying to keep my dick hard in a cruel and harsh world.

   1989, Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing

   [Jake Delhomme] has been “The Man” ever since, leading the Panthers to a remarkable eight come-from-behind wins in what Fox describes as Carolina's “outhouse-to-penthouse” season.

   2004 January 31, George Kimball, “Super Bowl XXXVIII: Rags-to-riches story for Carolina Panthers quarter-back Delhomme”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2025

   You're the man now, doll!

   2007 March 16, Capcom Production Studio 4, quoting Maya, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, Europe: Capcom, →OCLC, Nintendo DS, scene: Part 3: Investigation, Circus Entrance, level/area: Turnabout Big Top

1. Alternative letter-case form of the man (when construed as a proper noun, naming the one and only).