Phrase guide

separate the men from the boys

verb · 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To identify (by means of a challenge or ordeal) which of a group of males are mature, courageous or masculine, and which are not.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: separate the wheat from the chaff

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.