gent

Everyday

1. (informal, old-fashioned) A gentleman; a polite or well-dressed man: a real gent. tree →
2. «the Gents» (UK, Ireland, informal) = a public toilet for men. tree →
3. «gents'» = for men: gents' hairdresser. tree →
4. The gents can also mean the men as a group. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday British life signs say «Gents» and «Ladies» on toilets; in casual talk someone kind and polite is «a proper gent». Phrases: «the Gents», «a real gent», «ladies and gents».

Examples

• Excuse me, where is the Gents? tree →
• Grandpa is a real gent; he always opens the door for people. tree →
• Ladies and gents, the show is about to begin! tree →
• He went to the gents' barber for a haircut. tree →
• What a gent — he carried my bags. tree →
• The Gents is on the left, the Ladies on the right. tree →

Note

Short for «gentleman». Informal. «The Gents» takes a singular verb: «The Gents is closed.» Female match: «the Ladies».