son

A well-known person, especially a politician, who is supported and celebrated by people in his hometown. Ray was the favorite son of his hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho.

A well-known person, especially a politician, who is supported and celebrated by people in his hometown. Ray was the favourite son of his hometown of Manchester.

One's only male child. I'm so sad to send my only son off to college! Of course my mom showed my brother some favoritism—he's her only son, after all.

An evil person. "Belial" is a demon or another name for Satan. The phrase originated in the Bible. Eric spread horrible rumors about me, so he's the son of Belial as far as I'm concerned!

A speaker who attracts listeners by using an impassioned, often aggressive, delivery. The phrase originated in the Bible. I can't listen to that son of thunder bluster about his idiotic worldview anymore. A son of thunder has everyone mesmerized in the town square right now.

Fig. every one of them. The scout leader said that unless the scouts told him who had stolen the money, he would punish every mother's son of them. When the football team won the championship, they were all crying, every mother's son of them.

Prov. Fathers and sons resemble each other, and sons tend to do what their fathers did before them. Jill: George's father smoked all the time, and now George is smoking excessively, too. Jane: Like father, like son, eh? I think my son will grow up tall, just like his father. Like father, like son.

a worthless person. (A substitute for son of a bitch.) That tightfisted son of a gun won't buy me a beer. He can be a real son of a bachelor when he's in a bad mood.

Euph. a person, usually a male. (sometimes a substitute for son of a bitch.) Why, good to see you, you old son of a sea biscuit. You son of a sea biscuit! You make me so mad I could slug you.

anyone Draw the curtains or we'll have every Tom, Dick, and Harry peeking in the window.

a famous person, especially a politician, who is supported and praised by people in the area they come from Let me introduce to you the favorite son of Russell, Kansas: Bob Dole.

a man or boy who left a family or organization in order to do something they did not approve of and who has now returned to them feeling sorry for what he did Manchester City football club sees the return of the prodigal son tonight with Black once again in the team after a season away.

something that you say in order to show that you are very angry or upset Son of a bitch! Have you seen what he wrote in this letter?

something that you say in order to show that you are very surprised and shocked Son of a gun! I can't believe they put her in jail for that!

Also, every last one; every single one. Every individual in a group, as in Each and every student must register by tomorrow, or I've graded every last one of the exams, or Every single one of his answers was wrong. All of these phrases are generally used for emphasis. The first, although seemingly redundant, has replaced all and every, first recorded in 1502. The first variant dates from the late 1800s, and both it and the second are widely used. Also see every tom, dick, and harry. Every mother's son (late 1500s) and every man Jack (mid-1800s) are earlier versions that refer only to males.

Also, every mother's son; every man Jack. Everyone, all ordinary individuals, as in This model should appeal to every Tom, Dick, and Harry. The use of masculine names in this way dates from Shakespeare's time (he used Tom, Dick, and Francis in 1 Henry IV), but the current one dates from the early 1800s. The two variants are largely British usage but occasionally are used in America. The first is recorded as early as 1583, whereas the second dates from the first half of the 1800s.

A person valued by his or her hometown or organization for his or her achievements, usually political, as in Mary hoped they would treat her as a favorite son and nominate her for state senator. This term was originally employed for a candidate nominated for office by his own locality. Today this usage may ignore gender, as in the example. [c. 1780]

In the same manner from generation to generation, as in Kevin decided to run for mayor-like father, like son. This ancient proverb has been stated in English in slightly varying versions since the 1300s, sometimes appearing with a counterpart, like mother, like daughter. Thomas Draxe had it in Bibliotheca (1616): "Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter." Also see chip off the old block; follow in someone's footsteps.

Also, SOB; son of a gun. A mean, disagreeable individual, as in He was regarded as the worst son of a bitch in the industry, or He ran out on her? What an SOB, or He's a real son of a gun when it comes to owing you money. The first of these terms, calling a man the son of a female dog, dates from the early 1300s and is considered vulgar enough to have given rise to the two variants, both euphemisms. The first variant, an abbreviation, dates from World War I. The second, first recorded in 1708, gave rise to the theory that it originally applied to baby boys born at sea (in the days when women accompanied their husbands on long voyages). The explanation seems unlikely, especially since presumably some of the babies were girls. It also once meant the illegitimate son of a soldier (or "gun"). More probably, however, son of a gun evolved simply as a euphemism for the first term and appealed because of its rhyme. Both it and son of a bitch are also put as interjections expressing surprise, amazement, disgust, or disappointment, as in Son of a bitch! I lost my ticket, or I'll be a son of a gun! That must be the governor.