Jack the lad
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An irresponsible young man, seeking personal pleasure and gratification without any regard to responsibilities; a rogue.
Register: slang
Examples
You seem to think you’re a bit of a Jack the lad, don’t you?
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Jack the lad” mean?
An irresponsible young man, seeking personal pleasure and gratification without any regard to responsibilities; a rogue.
Is “Jack the lad” formal or informal?
Jack the lad is generally slang.