manhood
the state of being a man
The time or state when a boy has become a grown man.
reach [manhood]; in [early/late] manhood
- He reached manhood during the war.
- In his early manhood, he moved to the city to find work.
- The ceremony marked his passage from boyhood to manhood.
- Responsibilities multiplied as he entered manhood.
- He reached manhood at eighteen.
- In his early manhood, he started a job.
- The story shows his path from boyhood to manhood.
- The village held a rite to mark his manhood.
masculine qualities or bravery
Qualities people often expect from men, like courage or strength.
prove/show [one's] manhood; a test of [one's] manhood
- He felt he had to prove his manhood by taking the risk.
- The brutal initiation was called a test of manhood.
- The comment unfairly questioned his manhood.
- She rejects the idea that crying threatens a man's manhood.
- He tried to prove his manhood by fighting.
- They set a 'test of manhood' for new members.
- His friends joked about his manhood, which was rude.
euphemism for penis
A polite or literary word for a man's penis.
cover/expose [his] manhood
- He grabbed a towel to cover his manhood.
- The doctor asked if he had any pain in his manhood.
- The novel described him baring his manhood in the icy river.
- He used a towel to cover his manhood.
- The doctor checked his manhood for injury.
- In the book, 'manhood' means penis.
male sexual potency
A man's ability to have sex, especially to get and keep an erection.
lose/regain/restore [one's] manhood
- The clinic claimed it could restore a man's manhood.
- After the accident, he feared the loss of his manhood.
- The article discussed how stress can affect a man's manhood.
- The ad promised to restore his manhood.
- He worried about the loss of his manhood after surgery.
- Stress can hurt a man's manhood.
the adult male population
All the adult men in a place, often used in writing about war.
the [nation/region]'s manhood
- The war claimed much of the country's manhood.
- Poets wrote of the flower of the nation's manhood lost in battle.
- The decree called up the manhood of the valley.
- The war took much of the nation's manhood.
- Many poems mourn the nation's manhood lost in war.
- The army called up the region's manhood.
- Base: manhood
- Plural: manhood
a test of manhood
1ordeal proving masculinity
A difficult thing used to judge if someone has 'manly' qualities.
- The long march was seen as a test of manhood.
- They called the initiation a test of manhood, which many criticized.
attain manhood
1achieve adult male status
To become an adult man (formal style).
- He attained manhood far from home.
- In that culture, a public ritual marks the moment a boy attains manhood.
come to manhood
1grow into a man
To grow up and become a man (literary).
- He came to manhood in a time of unrest.
- Three brothers came to manhood under their aunt's care.
from boyhood to manhood
1transition from boy to man
The change from being a boy to being a man.
- The memoir follows him from boyhood to manhood.
- The rite marks the step from boyhood to manhood.
in his early manhood
1during early adult manhood
At the beginning part of his adult life as a man.
- In his early manhood, he traveled widely.
- The letters are from his early manhood.
loss of manhood
1becoming impotent
Becoming unable to have an erection or to have sex.
- The ad warned about the loss of manhood.
- He feared the loss of manhood after the treatment.
prove one's manhood
1show masculine qualities
To try to show bravery or other traits people expect from men.
- He risked everything to prove his manhood.
- No one should have to prove their manhood to be respected.
question someone's manhood
1doubt someone's masculinity
To say or suggest that someone lacks 'manly' qualities.
- The coach's remarks questioned his manhood.
- She refused to let anyone question her son's manhood over a mistake.
reach manhood
1become an adult man
To become a grown man.
- He reached manhood while working on the farm.
- Many cultures have ceremonies for boys who reach manhood.
the flower of a nation's manhood
1the finest adult men
The best or most promising adult men in a country.
- The war cost the flower of the nation's manhood.
- Poets mourned the flower of their manhood lost overseas.