Charles Atlas
/ˌtʃɑːlz ˈætləs/
/ˌtʃɑːrlz ˈætləs/
- (1894-1974) an American who had great success selling courses on how to develop muscles and a stronger body, using a method which he called 'dynamic tension'. The advertisements for his courses showed a thin man ('a seven-stone weakling') on the beach having sand kicked in his face by a strong man who was popular with the girls. Atlas's name is sometimes used to refer to somebody who is very strong.