sonny

Everyday

1. (informal, old-fashioned) A friendly or slightly bossy way an older person speaks to a boy or young man: «Listen, sonny». tree →
2. (a name) Sonny is also a nickname or first name. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and films an older character says «sonny» to a boy, sometimes warmly, sometimes to sound in charge («Now look here, sonny!»). It can sound patronising if said to a grown man. «Sonny Jim» is a British jokey version.

Examples

• "Off you go, sonny, and mind the road." tree →
• "Don't you talk back to me, sonny!" tree →
• The old fisherman said, "Want to hold the rod, sonny?" tree →
• "Sit down, Sonny Jim," laughed Grandad. tree →
• Sonny is the name of the dog next door. tree →
• "Here's your change, sonny," said the man at the market stall. tree →
• ‘Look here, sonny: if we share this cake we shall neither of us have enough. tree →

Note

Used only when speaking to someone, not as «a sonny». Not the same as «sunny» (full of sunshine), though they sound alike — homophones.