gentleman of four outs
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In Ireland when a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, "Yes, a GENTLEMAN OF FOUR OUTS"—that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “gentleman of four outs” mean?
In Ireland when a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, "Yes, a GENTLEMAN OF FOUR OUTS"—that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.
Is “gentleman of four outs” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.