guyguy /ɡaɪ/ ●●● S1 W3 noun [countable] 
Dave’s a nice guy when you get to know him. Jake’s a real tough guy.► see thesaurus at man2 British English a model of a man burnt every year on Guy Fawkes Night, in Britain3 (also guy rope) a rope that stretches from the top or side of a tent or pole to the ground to keep it in the right position4guys [plural] American English spoken used when talking to or about a group of people, male or female: Hey you guys! Where are you going?5no more Mr Nice Guy! spoken used to say that you will stop trying to behave honestly and fairly → wise guy at wise1(5)COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa nice/good guy· People say he’s a nice guy.a great guy· Phil is a great guy and a lot of fun.the bad guy (=a man in a book or movie who does bad things)· The bad guys all have guns.the good guy (=a man in a book or movie who does good things and beats the bad characters)· He’s one of the good guys in the 'Star Wars' films.a bad guy (=a person who is responsible for something bad that happens, or a person who you do not like)· I'm fed up with people always thinking that I am the bad guy.· Mike's not a bad guy.the poor guy (=used when something bad happens to someone and you want to show sympathy)· The poor guy was robbed of all his money.a tough guy (=a man who is strong and not afraid, especially one who is good at fighting)· He’s trying to prove he’s a tough guy.a regular guy American English (=an ordinary man)· I knew him in high school. He’s just a regular guy.the little guy American English (=ordinary people rather than a powerful organization such as a government or a large company)· He wanted to get elected and fight for the little guy.
WORD ORIGINguy
Origin:
1-2, 4-5 1800-1900 Guy Fawkes (1570-1606), who tried to blow up the English parliament. 3 1300-1400 Probably from Dutch gei ‘type of rope’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Dave's a really nice guy.
- Is he the guy who used to live next door to you?
- There's some guy who wants to talk to you.
- But you only need a few guys like me and you could.
- I've put the finger on seven members of the ring since lunch, but the big guy is slippery.
- I saw a guy with a head the size of a bucket-the kind you put mops in.
- It was sheer bloody hell listening to all those fatuous nincompoops saying what a great guy you are.
- Married veterans or guys who married when they got back had difficulties, too.
- Nine guys played, and nine guys accomplished something.
- These guys believed in what they were doing.
- Two chauffeurs linger in the corner, one white with blond hair, the other a good-looking black guy.
THESAURUS
an adult male human: · a young man· Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to climb Mount Everest.
(also bloke/chap British English) informal a man: · She’d arranged to meet a guy in the bar.· Alex is a really nice bloke.
formal a man – used as a very polite way of talking about a man: · an elderly gentleman· Please could you serve this gentleman?
a young male person, usually a child or a teenager: · a teenage boy
old-fashioned informal a boy or young man: · When I was a young lad, I wanted to join the army.
a teenage boy or young man – used especially in news reports to show disapproval: · Gangs of youths roam the streets.
formal a man – used especially by the police or in science and research contexts. The adjective male is much more common than the noun: · We are investigating the death of an unidentified male.· The condition is usually found only in males.
American English informal a man – a very informal use: · You could tell there was something creepy going on with that dude.
Longman Language Activatoran annoying person who thinks they are clever also know-all British spoken someone who annoys you because they always think they know the correct answers, know a lot about something etc: · OK, if you're such a know-it-all, you try and do it, then.· I just wish he'd stop being such a know-all all the time.
informal someone, especially a young person, who annoys you because they say funny or intelligent things in a rude way: · Glover was different to the rest of us. The son of university people. A smart aleck.· Some smart aleck at the back of the room kept standing up and asking awkward questions.
American informal someone who annoys you because they make jokes or give answers in a rude but funny way: · OK, smart-ass! If I want an answer from you I'll ask for it.
British informal use this about someone who uses their intelligence in a way that annoys other people, and will probably get into trouble at some time in the future: · Phil's good at thinking up excuses for his behaviour - he's too clever by half.
a man an adult male person: · There were two men and a woman in the car.· He had a very successful business and died a rich man.· You wouldn't understand how she feels -- you're a man!
informal also bloke British informal a man: · Dave's a really nice guy.· Is he the guy who used to live next door to you?· That Simon seems like a decent bloke.· He bought the car from a bloke at his office.
a man - use this as a polite way of talking about a man: · Can you serve this gentleman please, Sarah?· Mr Marks, an elderly gentleman, was travelling with his daughter.ladies and gentlemen (=used in speeches): · Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Dr Nelson Mandela.
informal also the lads British informal a group of men who are very friendly with each other or who work together or play in a team together: · I won't be home until late -- I'm going out for a drink with the boys.· The lads played really well -- we were unlucky not to win the game.
a man - use this especially when talking about characteristics that are typical of men and not of women: · The film is a brilliant analysis of the typical American male.· Haemophilia is a condition found only in males.
a male person is a man or a boy - use this especially when talking about jobs and work: · Most of the science teachers are male.· Salaries have increased for both male and female graduates.· The Health Service needs more male nurses.
a man who does not behave in a traditional male way or have traditionally male attitudes towards women, for example one who stays at home to look after the children or is happy to show his feelings: · I wouldn't say Tom was exactly a new man - he just enjoys looking after kids more than I do.· He considered himself to be a New Man, sensitive about things such as PMS and bad hair days.
someone who is not important · He's not really an important figure in the organization.· Don't worry about the critics. They're not important - they just think they are.
not important enough or powerful enough to worry about or treat seriously: · The anti-war group was an insignificant minority within the party.· The spies' payroll included insignificant clerks and highly placed officials.
especially American, informal a person or organization that is not important because they do not have any power or influence: · He got rich trading illegally on the stock market, using the little guy's money.· When the big retailers open a store, the little guys lose business.
someone who is well-known, for example in politics or literature, but is not really respected or considered to be important: · His books are tremendously popular, but most of the critics regard him as a lightweight.political/intellectual/literary etc lightweight: · It would be dangerous to dismiss her as a political lightweight.
informal someone who is considered to be unimportant because they are not famous, powerful, or rich: · He went from being a nobody to being paid $2 million a year.· I felt like a complete nobody when I lost my job.
someone who is not at all important, powerful, or interesting, and has no special qualities or skills: · Next to him, the other dancers seemed like nonentities.· He packed his government with nonentities, who would never challenge his leadership.
informal a person or group who has very little power or importance compared to other people or organizations: · Environmental groups are small fry against the power of the big multinationals.· Only the small fry on the drugs scene got caught by the police.
WORD SETSAD, advance, verbafter, prepositionafternoon, nounalarm, nounalarm clock, nouna.m., Anno Domini, annual, adjectiveApril, nounAsh Wednesday, nounAug., August, nounautumn, nounautumnal, adjectivebank holiday, nounBC, BCE, biannual, adjectivebicentenary, nounbicentennial, nounbiennial, adjectivebimonthly, adjectivebirthday, nounbiweekly, adjectivebonfire night, nounBoxing Day, nounBritish Summer Time, nounBST, nouncalendar, nouncalendar month, nouncalendar year, nouncarriage clock, nouncentenary, nouncentury, nounChristmas, nounChristmas Day, nounChristmas Eve, nounChristmastime, nounchronograph, nounchronological, adjectivechronometer, nouncircadian, adjectiveclock, nouncrystal, nouncuckoo clock, nouncycle, nouncyclic, adjectivedaily, adjectivedaily, adverbdate, noundate, verbdawn, nounday, nounDec., decade, nounDecember, noundiamond anniversary, noundiamond jubilee, noundinnertime, noundiurnal, adjectived.o.b., due date, noundusk, nounface, nounFather's Day, nounfeast, nounFebruary, nounfortnightly, adjectiveFourth of July, the, Fri., Friday, nounGood Friday, nounGreenwich Mean Time, nounGregorian calendar, nounguy, nounGuy Fawkes Night, nounhalf-hourly, adjectivehalf-yearly, adjectiveHalloween, nounhand, nounHanukkah, nounharvest festival, nounHogmanay, nounhorn, nounhour, nounhourglass, nounhour hand, nounhr, Independence Day, nounJan., January, nounjubilee, nounJuly, nounJune, nounLabor Day, nounleap year, nounlunar month, nounmainspring, nounman-hour, nounMar., March, nounMardi Gras, nounmarket day, nounMaundy Thursday, nounMay, nounMay Day, nounMichaelmas, nounmidday, nounmiddle age, nounmiddle-aged, adjectivemidnight, nounMidsummer Day, nounmidweek, adjectivemillennium, nounmin., minute hand, nounMon., Monday, nounmonth, nounmorn, nounmorning, nounMothering Sunday, nounMother's Day, nounmovable feast, nounnew moon, nounNew Year, nounNew Year's Day, nounNew Year's Eve, nounnight, nounnightfall, nounnighttime, nounnocturnal, adjectiveNoel, nounnoon, nounnoonday, adjectiveNov., November, nounOct., October, nounp.a., Pancake Day, nounPDT, penultimate, adjectiveper annum, adverbper diem, adverbperiodic, adjectivep.m., PST, public holiday, nounquarter, nounquotidian, adjectiveRemembrance Day, nounSat., Saturday, nounschoolday, nounseason, nounsecond, nounsecond hand, nounself-winding, adjectiveSeptember, nounshockproof, adjectivesilver anniversary, nounsilver jubilee, nounsilver wedding anniversary, nounsolar year, nounsolstice, nounspring, nounspringtime, nounstandard time, nounstopwatch, nounsummer, nounsummer solstice, nounsummertime, nounsummery, adjectiveSun., Sunday, nounsundown, nounsunrise, nounsunset, nounsun-up, nountercentenary, nounThanksgiving, nounthirty, numberThursday, nountime, nountime, verbtimepiece, nountimer, nountime signal, nountime warp, nountime zone, nountoday, adverbtoday, nountomorrow, adverbtomorrow, nountonight, adverbtonight, nountriennial, adjectiveTuesday, nountwilight, nounWed., Wednesday, nounweek, nounweekday, nounweekend, nounweekly, adjectiveweeknight, nounWhit, nounWhitsun, nounwinter, nounwintertime, nounwk., wristwatch, nounyear, nounyesterday, adverbyr., Yule, nounYuletide, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives He's the go-to guy for questions about spreadsheets. I’m on the side of the good guys (=people who behave in a morally right way, for example in a film). one of football’s most notorious tough guysCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· People say he’s a nice guy.
· Phil is a great guy and a lot of fun.
(=a man in a book or movie who does bad things)· The bad guys all have guns.
(=a man in a book or movie who does good things and beats the bad characters)· He’s one of the good guys in the 'Star Wars' films.
(=a person who is responsible for something bad that happens, or a person who you do not like)· I'm fed up with people always thinking that I am the bad guy.· Mike's not a bad guy.
(=used when something bad happens to someone and you want to show sympathy)· The poor guy was robbed of all his money.
(=a man who is strong and not afraid, especially one who is good at fighting)· He’s trying to prove he’s a tough guy.
American English (=an ordinary man)· I knew him in high school. He’s just a regular guy.
American English (=ordinary people rather than a powerful organization such as a government or a large company)· He wanted to get elected and fight for the little guy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He's the go-to guy for questions about spreadsheets. I’m on the side of the good guys (=people who behave in a morally right way, for example in a film). one of football’s most notorious tough guys· As I have had reason to observe before, the malai medics weren't such bad guys.· In one I had to sit all night in the woods, completely still, while the bad guys circled nearby.· But the bad guys get a spanking, so the story had a modicum of morality.· Nobody wants to be the bad guy anymore; nobody wants to say no.· If you meet a bad guy, you lock him up.· The one who is trying to do something is not the bad guy in this drama.· I was booing and hissing the bad guys with the best of them, and I usually hate audience participation.· At home Lucky is looking forward to once again playing Superman and capturing bad guys.
· His name is Ace. Big black guy.· Larry Flynt presents the infamous pornographer as a likable slob who faced down the big guys and won.· They said my father looked a bit like Clark Gable, bold and bad, by all accounts a big guy.· Police officers and big guys in suits wearing earplugs, looking tense, had cordoned off a temporary pathway.· He's a big guy, but he seemed to have got to like crying.· A million bucks to you is peanuts, big guy.
· If a black guy tells it, it's not racist.· There were four black guys in the car, late teens to early 20s.· In fact these are not really black guys at all.· Our guy, the black guy, was smarter than the white guys.· Two black guys block our way.· Two chauffeurs linger in the corner, one white with blond hair, the other a good-looking black guy.· I pull, and the black guy stumble forward.· As a black guy I find it definitely relates to everyday life.
· In the Godfather, Michael Corleone starts off as a good guy.· This is a good group of guys, these are good guys.· Tyler and I go back a few years. Good guy.· You have to have good hosts, guys with different backgrounds and personalities.· Hamlet kills his good old guy, as it happens.· Nolte makes a good tough guy, as always.· Remember how he wanted us to think he was a good guy at heart?· She, too, has tried to distance herself from what she does best, but the good guys need her.
· Stay kerbside - yeah, that sick-looking little guy there.· The little guy can sometimes wield the Freedom of Information Act to impressive effect.· Against all forecasts, against all evidence, the little guy sometimes leads the invincible giant a merry dance.· The idea of it is kind of cute: This little Frank guy is trying to find candy.· They are hiding things from the little guy who is just trying to earn a dollar.· We want the little guys to relate well with each other, relate well with all people...· At that moment there came into my mind the image of that little guy with a moustache and I thought, dammit.· So much for the little guy.
· Andrew is a nice guy, but he has the brain of a husk.· He seems like a nice enough guy, so you buy the book, you start to read it.· But the Cambridgeshire result gives lie to the notion that nice guys can't win.· Michael Coles is a really nice guy.· It seems pretty convincing that nice guys do well in this game.· He was a nice guy, a likable guy.· We can see how, in Axelrod's meaning of the term, nice guys may finish first.· What he was first was a heck of a nice guy.
· I didn't really hurt the old guy much.· At least I can say that I do these old guys no real or lasting harm.· Some of those old guys are still around, shaking their heads, wondering how long this foolishness will continue.· Hamlet kills his good old guy, as it happens.· Up and down the bar, old guys look away and touch their eyes.· And the only employee I could see was an older guy with tattoos on both forearms who was stocking shelves.
· The poor guy who made it did everything right except get those burr veneers properly adhered to the ground.· She said that it was too bad about us, poor guys, but we were going to get mortared at midnight.· Now that poor guy, charged with attempted rape and robbery.· But one poor guy was slow to catch on.· Can anyone help this poor, unfortunate guy?· But the poor paunchy guy had been stuffed into a jumpsuit from which he seemed to gasp for air.· Elvis Presley's trying to sound like Dean Martin, and so is some poor guy in Waikiki.· He had ten birdies in that score, but the poor guy took a six on the par four seventeenth.
· He is a classic modern tough guy as well as being an Old Testament prodigal son.· Nolte makes a good tough guy, as always.· Unlike a good many tough guys who made it big in movies, Marvin didn't come from a particularly tough background.· Fujimori knows a fellow tough guy when he sees one.· It doesn't matter, tough guy.· Think of the 10 toughest guys you know.· Likes to kid everyone he's the big macho tough guy.· This sounds tough on guys like Joe Smith and Latrell Sprewell, who have warred beginning to end this year.
· If a white guy does, it is.· Our guy, the black guy, was smarter than the white guys.· Maybe the black athletes are just psyching the white guys out.· The white guys ultimately beat the red guys because they outnumbered them thousands to one.· And to make matters worse, it was a white guy my mum had an affair with.· Where are the white guys, period?· Myself and a friend were the only white guys in the whole place, and it was great.· This guy I met, that white guy?
· Which just leaves De Niro, whose charismatic wise guy routine is disappointingly adequate and no more.· But you better deliver the goods, wise guy.· Confidence just got wise and the guys it got wise to are wondering where it has gone.· He grabbed dance by the arm and led it into the world of city rhythms, wise guys and lovers.· But to be honest, I like to see a little bit of a wise guy in my coaches.
· It's predominantly young guys, tattooed, with their shirts off.· We have a lot of young guys.· He was a handsome young guy with a head of well-oiled reddish hair.· Two young guys named John and Tom.· I walked up to one young guy in full get-up playing the tin whistle near the Harness and Saddle maker store.· McGowan on one side of him, a young blond guy with cheekbones on the other.· He attracts old guys in uniform and young guys in shorts who wouldn't dream of voting for anyone else.
NOUN· To this end, one of the younger Communist shop stewards in the plot had agreed to be the fall guy.· Beamish, thought Henry, could be the fall guy.
VERB· Will Robin solve the fiendish crimes? Get the bad guy?· Confidence just got wise and the guys it got wise to are wondering where it has gone.· It depends what happens when I get through to that guy in Civitavecchia.· It was a chance for us to get better-prepared for Denver and to get some guys healthy.· If he got hurt, my guy used to suffer, too.· I got guys out there helping me.· She says they've got these guys and it's all right now, I can come out.· Sometimes it takes a little bit longer to have guys get together.
· I met the guys, loved the songs and they asked me to be their agent.· So I met this guy called Donahue.· I should love to meet the guy who thought up that one.· Can I meet you guys for lunch today?· Jimmy watched him, wondering how long it would be before he met up with this guy again on the street.· Right away, what happens is that he meets his ideal guy.· If you meet a bad guy, you lock him up.· In the service, I met an impressive guy who had just passed the Massachusetts bar exam.
· I play a guy who finds love and then people try to take it away.· The only thing that keeps Carolina from dominating people is Dean plays 11 guys.· He could play the good guy so convincingly.· Nine guys played, and nine guys accomplished something.· A lot of times I play the guy who knows what to do, and that's not really me.· Of course, any time you play these guys with Young scrambling and getting critical first downs it makes it tough.· What makes me mad is I turn around and hear this after I played against these guys for three months.· Or maybe play a bad guy.
· Do you want me to go and see the guy?· I just see it as a guy who went after his dreams.· You hardly ever see them bothering with guys their own age.· I saw a guy with a head the size of a bucket-the kind you put mops in.· He just saw me as the guy who woke him up and sent him berserk.· I wanted to see the guy who found a snake in his chimney.· I've seen the Fire guys and they told me to ask for an Inspector Ball.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1informal a man SYN bloke: - All right wise guy, I don't need to hear any more jokes out of you!
- But to be honest, I like to see a little bit of a wise guy in my coaches.
- But you better deliver the goods, wise guy.
- He grabbed dance by the arm and led it into the world of city rhythms, wise guys and lovers.
- Which just leaves De Niro, whose charismatic wise guy routine is disappointingly adequate and no more.
Dave’s a nice guy when you get to know him. Jake’s a real tough guy.► see thesaurus at man2 British English a model of a man burnt every year on Guy Fawkes Night, in Britain3 (also guy rope) a rope that stretches from the top or side of a tent or pole to the ground to keep it in the right position4guys [plural] American English spoken used when talking to or about a group of people, male or female: Hey you guys! Where are you going?5no more Mr Nice Guy! spoken used to say that you will stop trying to behave honestly and fairly → wise guy at wise1(5)COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa nice/good guy· People say he’s a nice guy.a great guy· Phil is a great guy and a lot of fun.the bad guy (=a man in a book or movie who does bad things)· The bad guys all have guns.the good guy (=a man in a book or movie who does good things and beats the bad characters)· He’s one of the good guys in the 'Star Wars' films.a bad guy (=a person who is responsible for something bad that happens, or a person who you do not like)· I'm fed up with people always thinking that I am the bad guy.· Mike's not a bad guy.the poor guy (=used when something bad happens to someone and you want to show sympathy)· The poor guy was robbed of all his money.a tough guy (=a man who is strong and not afraid, especially one who is good at fighting)· He’s trying to prove he’s a tough guy.a regular guy American English (=an ordinary man)· I knew him in high school. He’s just a regular guy.the little guy American English (=ordinary people rather than a powerful organization such as a government or a large company)· He wanted to get elected and fight for the little guy.