2007-07-17 08:22:39 · 27 answers · asked by phrenitus 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
shhhhhhhhh. cheese it.
2007-07-17 08:25:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Man:
"The Man" does not usually refer to a specific individual as such, but instead to the government, leaders of large corporations, and other authority figures in general, such as the police. The Man is colloquially defined as the figurative person who controls our world. The Man is also often used as a symbol of racial oppression, as well as the boss of a blue-collar worker, and the enemy of any counterculture.
The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe perceived oppression, but in modern times it is most often used facetiously in an ironically resigned fashion. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist"; however, this is also used facetiously sometimes.
Calling someone "the man" can also be a form of praise. This may refer to the recipient's status as the leader or authority within a particular context, or it might be assumed to be a shortened form of a phrase like "He is the man (that is in charge)." In more modern usage, it can be a superlative compliment indicating that the subject is currently standing out amongst his peers even though they have no special designation or rank, such as a basketball player who is performing better than the other players on the court. It can also be used as a genuine compliment with an implied, slightly exaggerated or sarcastic tone, usually indicating that the person has indeed impressed the speaker but by doing something relatively trivial.
A third and minor meaning of "the Man" is that of a drug dealer. The slang was used in the 1950s and 1960s and can be seen in such places as Jonathan Larson's Rent, William Burroughs's novel Naked Lunch, and in the Velvet Underground song "I'm Waiting for the Man", in which Lou Reed sings about going to Uptown Manhattan, specifically Lexington Avenue and 125th Street, to buy heroin.
2007-07-17 15:25:15 · answer #2 · answered by Michael N 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's just a man; and he's trying to keep you down. Now was that too hard?
2007-07-17 15:29:29 · answer #3 · answered by Venom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The man/women is who ever is in power. They keep use down so they will keep their power. If we become their equal they lose their power over us. Beauty simple and basic.
2007-07-17 15:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by zipper 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am the man. I rule the world and all that lives in my area. This is my party and we play by my rules. I am the game and the player!
This is my life!
2007-07-17 15:25:22 · answer #5 · answered by Just Life, Trying To Live It. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Man" is the authority entity in charge (i.e. the government, law enforcement, etc.).
The Man keeps us down because The Man is the one with the power (and they don't want us to have it).
2007-07-17 15:25:58 · answer #6 · answered by Blazen Elite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Man is a figment of people's imagination. When people don't try hard enough, it's a way of saying "it's not my fault."
2007-07-17 15:26:27 · answer #7 · answered by nita5267 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Power to the people! Watch the classic movie "Superfly" and it will answer the Question. And get the soundtrack too.
2007-07-17 15:26:15 · answer #8 · answered by dr strangelove 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The man is "Authority" and he is always trying to keep us little folks down.
2007-07-17 15:25:36 · answer #9 · answered by ♪ Pamela ♫ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pac-Man's grandpa is THE Man
2007-07-17 15:25:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
David Hasselhoff..... he needs to keep us down so we dont ask why he still has a career
2007-07-17 15:25:29 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋