Man of the cloth
/mæn əv ðə klɔθ/
B2
Definition
The phrase "man of the cloth" means a man who works as a religious leader, such as a priest, minister, or pastor. The "cloth" refers to the special clothing these men wear during religious services. It is often used to talk about someone respected for their role in a church or religious community.
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See It in Action
A male religious leader who wears special clothes
- •The man of the cloth gave a beautiful sermon at the Sunday service.
- •Many people respect the man of the cloth for his wisdom and kindness.
- •When the man of the cloth entered the room, everyone stood up quietly.
Sometimes used to talk about religious leaders in general, not just men
- •The community looked to the men of the cloth for guidance during difficult times.
- •People often seek advice from the men of the cloth in their town.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "man of the cloth" like "priest" or "pastor," but in a more polite or formal way that talks about his special clothes
- ✓Picture a man wearing long robes or special clothes in a church, standing in front of people during a service
- ✓It feels respectful, like when you see someone who helps others with faith and advice
- ✓Sounds like "man of the CLOTH" → imagine a man holding a piece of cloth that shows his job and respect in the community
- ✓In stories or movies, a man of the cloth often gives advice or helps people with problems
- ✓NOT like "man of the world" (someone experienced in life); "man of the cloth" means someone dedicated to religion
- ✓NOT like "layman" (a regular church member); this phrase means a religious official with special duties
- ✓The phrase focuses on the clothing as a symbol of the man's religious role
Try Other Words
- •Clergyman: a man who is a member of the church and leads religious services (Use when talking about formal church roles)
- •Minister: a person who leads a Protestant church (Use in Protestant contexts)
- •Pastor: a leader of a Christian church who cares for the people (Use when focusing on care and teaching)
- •Priest: a man who performs religious ceremonies, especially in Catholic or Orthodox churches (Use in Catholic or Orthodox contexts)
Unboxing
- •Phrase parts: "man" (male person) + "of the" (shows belonging) + "cloth" (special fabric used for religious clothes)
- •Etymology: The phrase comes from the idea that religious leaders wear special cloth or robes that show their role
- •Historical development: Used for centuries to describe clergy members by their distinctive clothing
- •Modern usage: Still used today to politely refer to male religious leaders, often in stories, news, or formal speech
- •The phrase highlights the importance of clothing as a symbol of religious authority and respect
Reflect & Connect
•How does the clothing of a "man of the cloth" help people recognize his role and trust him?
•Can the phrase "man of the cloth" be used for women in religious roles? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.The man of the cloth wore ___ robes that showed he was leading the service.
2.People often come to the man of the cloth for ___ when they have problems.
3.Unlike a regular church member, a man of the cloth has special ___ in the community.
4.When the man of the cloth spoke, everyone listened ___ because they respected him.
5.The phrase "man of the cloth" focuses on the ___ he wears as a symbol of his role.
6.A man of the cloth usually performs ___ like prayers, sermons, and ceremonies.
7.In some stories, a man of the cloth is seen as a person who offers ___ and guidance.