ENGLISH
REFERENCE

man of parts

idiom
Meaning

A man who is talented in multiple areas of life.


Origin

disputed origin

The phrase saw much use in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, especially in England.

Examples
SIMPLE

He is a man of parts who paints, cooks, and plays music.

CONTEXTUAL

The new manager is a man of parts, skilled in both engineering and creative marketing strategies.

COMPLEX

As a true man of parts, he navigated the complex worlds of diplomacy, philosophy, and classical literature with equal grace and intellectual depth.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be a man

    To put up with something or take responsibility for it; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.

  2. 02

    be one's own man

    To behave independently without the influence of others.

  3. 03

    be the bigger man

    To walk away from a conflict to prevent it from escalating.

  4. 04

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

  5. 05

    broken man

    A man who has suffered significant and enduring emotional pain as a result of a highly unpleasant or traumatic event.

  6. 06

    every man has a price

    Everyone can be bribed or corrupted for a certain price.

  7. 07

    faceless man

    Someone who is not elected to political office, but exerts power over political affairs from behind the scenes.

  8. 08

    funny man

    Alternative form of funnyman.

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