fat man
MediumInformal to Neutral; the direct physical description is informal/neutral. The historical reference is formal/technical.
Definition
Meaning
A man who is physically overweight or has a significant amount of body fat.
A metaphorical or historical reference; most notably, 'Fat Man' was the codename for the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can be descriptive, pejorative, or historical depending on context. As a physical descriptor, it focuses on body size and can be considered impolite or direct.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage as a physical descriptor is similar. The term 'large man' is a common polite alternative in both varieties.
Connotations
Potentially offensive or insensitive in both varieties when used as a direct personal descriptor. The historical/military reference is neutral and identical.
Frequency
The informal descriptive use is more common in American English, where directness about physical appearance is slightly more prevalent, but still widely understood in BrE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Determiner] + fat man + [Verb Phrase]The + fat man + [Past Tense Verb]He was a fat man.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like trying to fit a fat man in a small coat (impractical/difficult).”
- “The fat man sings (slang for the decisive moment has arrived).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Highly unlikely except in informal characterisations (e.g., 'the fat man from accounting'). Considered unprofessional.
Academic
Primarily in historical/military contexts discussing the 1945 atomic bomb.
Everyday
Informal descriptive use, though often considered rude. More common in storytelling or indirect reference.
Technical
Exclusively refers to the 'Fat Man' plutonium implosion-type nuclear weapon used in WWII.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was fat-shamed for being a fat man.
American English
- They tried to fat-man their way through the crowded pub. (slang, rare)
adjective
British English
- He had a very fat-man sort of laugh, deep and rumbling.
American English
- It was a fat-man chair, extra wide and sturdy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The fat man was very kind.
- He is a fat man.
- A fat man sat next to me on the bus.
- Santa Claus is often shown as a jolly fat man.
- The documentary explained the design of the 'Fat Man' atomic bomb.
- Despite being a fat man, he was surprisingly agile on the tennis court.
- The term 'Fat Man' entered the lexicon as a grim euphemism for one of history's most devastating weapons.
- His portrayal of the corrupt official relied on the tired trope of the greedy fat man.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the historical 'Fat Man' bomb: it was round and bulky, like the stereotypical image of a large man.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEIGHT IS SIGNIFICANCE / POWER (e.g., 'the fat man of the industry'); ROTUNDITY IS CONTENTMENT (e.g., jolly fat man stereotype).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation 'толстый мужчина' in polite contexts; it is too blunt. Use 'полный мужчина' or 'крупный мужчина' for a softer tone.
- The historical term 'Fat Man' is translated as 'Толстяк' and is a proper name, not a description.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'fat man' in formal writing to describe a person.
- Confusing 'fat man' (description) with 'Fat Man' (proper historical noun).
- Capitalising it incorrectly when not referring to the bomb.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'fat man' considered formal and technical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is generally considered impolite, insensitive, or offensive. More neutral terms like 'large man' or 'overweight man' are preferred in polite conversation.
'Fat Man' (capitalised) is a proper noun referring specifically to the atomic bomb. 'fat man' (lowercase) is a descriptive phrase for an overweight male.
Very few. 'Jolly fat man' has positive connotations of merriment and abundance (like Santa Claus), but it is still a stereotype. Most uses are neutral or negative.
Only in its historical context (the atomic bomb). Using it as a physical descriptor in academic work would be considered informal and inappropriate unless analysing language use itself.