Gentleman Jim
English edit
Etymology edit
Possibly from the nickname of champion American boxer James J. Corbett (1866–1933) or American country music singer Jim Reeves (1923-1964).
Noun edit
Gentleman Jim (usually uncountable, plural Gentleman Jims or Gentlemen Jims)
- (informal) A man, especially one named James, whose behavior shows him to have a polite, courteous, and respectable nature.
- 1916, Elbert Hubbard, “Philip D. Armour”, in Little Journeys Vol. 11: Great Businessmen:
- When Sullivan met Corbett at New Orleans, Gentleman Jim landed the champion a terrific jolt with his right, smiled sweetly and said, "To think, John, of your coming all the way from Boston to get that."
- 1982, Vernon Haugland, The Eagles' War: the Saga of the Eagle Squadron Pilots, 1940-1945, →ISBN, page 93:
- Something puzzling: there were two Gentleman Jims in 71 Squadron.
- 2005 February 22, Sheryl Gay Stolberg, “In Eye of Social Security Storm, Quiet Power Broker Is Courted”, in New York Times, retrieved 16 January 2016:
- Mr. McCrery … was headed for defeat until his opponent, a state legislator named Foster Campbell, was injured in a car crash. Mr. McCrery pulled his advertising and became known as "Gentleman Jim," a label that fit a personality his consultants had tried in vain to revamp.
- 2007 January 14, Dave Hadfield, “Obituaries: Jim Lewthwaite, Rugby league record-breaker”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 16 January 2016:
- Lewthwaite . . . was also regarded as ultra-reliable in defence, as well as a consummate sportsman, often referred to as "Gentleman Jim".