good old boy

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English

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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good old boy (plural good old boys)

  1. A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow.
    • 1899, Stephen Crane, chapter 5, in Active Service:
      "Billie, what kind of a lad is that young Coke up at Washurst?" He addressed an old college friend. . . .
      "He's one of those Ohio Cokes—regular thing—father millionaire—used to be a barber—good old boy."
    • 1910, H. Rider Haggard, chapter 7, in Queen Sheba's Ring:
      Tell these fellows to say to their Sultan that he is a good old boy, and that we thank him very much.
  2. (sometimes derogatory) A white man who embodies the culture stereotypically associated with the Southern US, such as bias against nonwhite people, and other conservative attitudes.
    • 1973, "Quick Cuts" (film review), Time, 24 Sep.:
      "White Lightning" concerns a good old boy named Gator McKluskey (Burt Reynolds) who is serving time in the Arkansas pen for messing around with illegal liquor.
    • 1984 August 18, R. L. Richardson, “Women In Cages”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 6, page 7:
      The Texas Department of "Corrections" is the largest state prison system in this country, with more than 20 separate units housing upwards of 35,000 prisoners. The system is run by a network of "good old boys," and its policies are a direct reflection of their personal morals and values, so homophobia is the rule rather than the exception.

Synonyms

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Coordinate terms

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  • (friendly, unambitious white man in rural southern US): bubba, cracker, redneck
  • (unsophisticated resident of a rural area): yokel

Derived terms

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See also

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References

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