true Romeo
- noun
- /tru ˈroʊmiˌoʊ/
- Despite his reputation, Mark proved to be a true Romeo when he serenaded Emily under her window.
Examples
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Everyone at school knew he was a true Romeo who left love notes in every locker.
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She found her true Romeo during a summer trip to France.
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He is a true Romeo in every sense of the word.
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Can you believe he calls himself a true Romeo?
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Mark proved to be a true Romeo when he serenaded Emily under her window.
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Everyone at school knew he was a true Romeo who left romantic notes for his crush.
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She was delighted when she met her true Romeo at the poetry reading.
Synonyms
68
4.6
A person guided more by feelings and imagination than by practical needs
21
4.8
A man who is very romantic and shows strong love for someone
11
7.0
A young man who acts charming and shows romantic interest
Antonyms
How Romantic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a passionate, devoted lover' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'true' (genuine) with 'Romeo' (a romantic lover); knowing both constituents enables a B1 learner to infer the phrase. Although it relies on a literary/cultural reference to Shakespeare, the composition is transparent and similar shorthand usages (e.g., calling someone a 'Romeo') exist cross-linguistically, aiding comprehension.
Etymology
True Romeo comes from the young lover Romeo in Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet'. He was famous for singing under windows and risking everything for love, so a true Romeo now means 'a passionate, devoted lover'.