Phrase guide

boys will be boys

proverb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • boiz wĭl bē boiz
  • Received-Pronunciation: /bɔɪ̯z wɪl biː bɔɪ̯z/
  • Canada, General-American, Scotland: /bɔɪ̯z wɪl bi bɔɪ̯z/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /boɪ̯z wɪl biː boɪ̯z/
  • New-Zealand: /boɪ̯z wəl biː boɪ̯z/
  • India: /bɔjz wɪl biː bɔjz/

1

proverb

Meaning 1

It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

proverb

Meaning 2

Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish at heart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Boys will be boys, grinned Grandpa as he watched his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he had given his grandson for Christmas.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

proverb

Meaning 3

Any potentially objectionable behavior (especially predatory sexual behavior) that the speaker considers to be commonly practiced by many boys and men should be viewed as excusable because it comes naturally to them.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, offensive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pojat ovat poikia — boys are mischievous by nature
  • French: il faut que jeunesse se passe — boys are mischievous by nature
  • German: Jungen sind nun einmal so — boys are mischievous by nature
  • Polish: chłopcy zawsze będą chłopcami — boys are mischievous by nature
  • Russian: мальчи́шки е́сть мальчи́шки (malʹčíški jéstʹ malʹčíški) — boys are mischievous by nature
  • Serbo-Croatian: дечки ће бити дечки — boys are mischievous by nature
  • Serbo-Croatian: dečki će biti dečki — boys are mischievous by nature
  • Finnish: pojat ovat poikia — men remain boyish at heart
  • Polish: mężczyźni mogą być jak dzieci — men remain boyish at heart
  • Russian: мальчи́шки е́сть мальчи́шки (malʹčíški jéstʹ malʹčíški) — men remain boyish at heart
  • Finnish: pojat ovat poikia — bad behavior should not be criticized if it is typical of boys and men
  • Polish: chłopcy zawsze będą chłopcami — bad behavior should not be criticized if it is typical of boys and men