son of a gun
son of a gun
Meaning
- to address someone in an affectionate way
- to call someone in a jocular or appreciative manner
Example Sentences
- The son of a gun managed to pass all the subjects this time along! I am so happy!
- I know a son of a gun who will take care of this problem for you.
- That son of a gun has a mean streak and a pure heart.
- The son of a gun did wonderfully well at arranging this party and ensuring that everybody has a great time.
- You son of a gun! You did all this for me?
- He is such a son of a gun to have travelled so far to see us.
- You son of a gun! Come here and give your uncle a hug!
Origin
The phrase is an exclamatory noun which can be used as a compliment or to encourage someone. It has been used as a slang to refer to someone since the 1800’s and probably originated from the mafia world where a son of a gun could literally mean the boss’s offspring. The noun is still in use to refer to someone who is an ally. In 2014, a film was titled by this phrase.
Share your opinions3 Opinions
Good grief: again claiming an idiom as American. This phrase originated in the British Merchant navy, which – to keep the crew inline and also add rewards – the ship would host several “ladies of the night” (because your filters won’t allow the Pros word). Obviously, these ladies would suffer the mishap of becoming pregnant, and the only interior place they had space to deliver the baby was on the floor beside the cannons. As the father could have been any of dozens of sailors, the captain would enter in the log “Son of a gun” (or daughter, but it is the former that became a popular exclamation.
‒ Chris November 12, 2024
Marty, in that case (and in many cases) it was presumably used as a more family friendly replacement for “son of a b***h”, lol
‒ Banana March 17, 2023
My dad always said this in a mad way when I was a little girl, does this mean anything?
‒ Marty DL February 24, 2023