Phrase guide

once a man, twice a child

proverb · 1 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

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  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˌwʌn(t)s‿ə ˈmæn ˌtwaɪs‿ə ˈt͡ʃaɪld/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aɪld

1

proverb

Meaning 1

A man is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when he deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: once a man, twice a boy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: once an adult, twice a child

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: höperö vanhus on kuin lapsi — a man is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when he deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state
  • Icelandic: tvisvar verður gamall maður barn — a man is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when he deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state
  • Swedish: gå i barndom — a man is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when he deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state