tarzan

Everyday

1. (a name) Tarzan is a made-up character created by the American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs in the novel "Tarzan of the Apes" (1912): a boy raised by apes in the African jungle who grows up very strong and swings through the trees on vines. Disney made a cartoon film of him in 1999. tree →
2. (informal) A Tarzan is a very strong, muscly man, often said as a joke. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and films Tarzan is famous for his loud yell and swinging on vines; his friend is Jane. In everyday talk people jokingly call someone "Tarzan" when they show off their strength or swing on a rope. Today some people point out that the old books show Africa and Africans in an unfair way. Phrases: "Tarzan yell", "Tarzan swing", "Me Tarzan, you Jane" (a famous film joke, not in the book).

Examples

• Tarzan swung through the jungle on long vines. tree →
• My brother did a Tarzan yell from the climbing frame. tree →
• In the story, Tarzan is raised by apes. tree →
• Disney's "Tarzan" has songs by Phil Collins. tree →
• "Okay, Tarzan, put the sofa down," laughed Mum. tree →
• We tied a Tarzan swing to the big oak tree. tree →
• Tarzan and Jane meet in the jungle. tree →

Note

A name, so it is written with a capital T. It is a fictional character, not a real person. A "Tarzan swing" or "rope swing" is a rope tied to a branch.