man of the cloth
12
6.7
- noun
- Many people turn to a man of the cloth for guidance during difficult times.
- calls himself a man of the cloth
- man of the cloth has to say
- see a man of the cloth
Examples
-
I am a man of the cloth, too.
Fiction book (1990) -
Karen, he's a man of the cloth.
-
I never say no to a man of the cloth.
-
My father is a man of the cloth and my sister followed him in that way of thinking.
-
Sir, I am a man of the cloth.
Fiction book (2001) -
Your father's a man of the cloth, I believe.
-
Surely you would not harm a man of the cloth?
Fiction book (1991) -
He's a man of the cloth.
Fiction book (1991) -
He was a good man of the cloth, but his calling was not teaching.
Fiction book (1990) -
But the man I've fallen for, he's a man of the cloth, father.
Synonyms
469
3.0
A religious leader who cares for and leads a Christian church, usually in Protestant churches
267
2.6
A religious leader who leads worship and helps people
213
5.2
A Christian church leader often given a formal title before their name
71
3.6
A group of religious leaders like priests or pastors who lead Christian services
61
6.4
A religious leader who leads services and prayers in a church
42
7.3
A religious leader who cares for and guides a group of church members
28
5.4
A Christian priest in charge of a local church
22
4.7
A man who leads services and gives spiritual help in a church
12
6.8
A man who talks about Christian beliefs in church
10
9.1
A senior church leader who has authority over other clergy
8
8.2
A Christian minister in charge of a local church
6
7.8
A church leader who leads services and cares for a local church
4
9.0
A priest who is a member of a cathedral's group of church leaders
2
6.0
A man who leads or works in a Christian church
2
9.9
An old word for a person who leads a Christian church, like a minister
1
9.9
A senior Christian church leader under a bishop who manages part of a church district
1
8.9
The leader of a religious order who looks after many communities
1
9.6
A senior church leader in charge of several churches or a cathedral
A clergyman in charge of a parish
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
man + of + the + cloth
The meaning 'male member of the clergy' is linked to 'cloth' via clerical garments, so a learner who knows 'man' and 'cloth' could infer a relation to a man associated with special clothing. However, the use of 'cloth' to mean the clergy is somewhat idiomatic and culturally specific (and slightly archaic), so the exact occupational sense is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Man of the cloth comes from the simple image of a man wearing special cloth, the long robes that show he works for the church. That's why it means 'a male member of the clergy' today.