"Men in Suits" Meaning, Origin and Examples • 7ESL

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You might have encountered the term “men in suits” and wondered what it signifies. This reference will guide you through its meaning, origins, and usage. We will explain what “men in suits” stands for and give examples to illustrate its use in various contexts. Whether you’re hearing about it in a conversation or reading about it, this will help you grasp the term with ease.

Men in Suits Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

The phrase “men in suits” refers to business professionals, executives, or people in authority who typically work in corporate environments. It suggests individuals who hold formal positions and are often associated with power, decision-making, or a traditional, structured way of doing business.

What Does “Men in Suits” Mean?

The phrase “men in suits” generally refers to people, typically men, who work in professional, corporate, or business environments. It often conveys the idea of executives, managers, or authority figures who hold positions of power, make decisions, or represent a formal, structured, and sometimes conservative way of doing business.

Origin of this Phrase

The phrase “men in suits” likely originated from the common practice of business professionals, executives, and authority figures wearing suits as a standard form of formal attire in corporate and official settings. Wearing a suit has long been associated with professionalism, status, and authority, especially in Western cultures. Over time, this attire became a symbol of the business world, leading to the expression “men in suits” as a way to describe people who embody traditional corporate roles or structures.

Usage of “Men in Suits”

Corporate Environment:
- “The boardroom was filled with men in suits, ready to discuss the merger.”
- (Refers to business executives or professionals in a formal meeting.)
Authority Figures:
- “The men in suits showed up to inspect the facility after the incident.”
- (Implies officials or inspectors, often associated with a position of power.)
Critique of Corporate Culture:
- “He didn’t want to be just another man in a suit, so he quit his job and started his own business.”
- (Suggests a desire to break free from the traditional corporate mold.)
Media and Representation:
- “Whenever there’s a crisis, it’s the men in suits who appear on TV to reassure the public.”
- (Refers to executives or government officials representing organizations or authorities.)

The phrase can be used neutrally to describe business professionals or critically to point out perceived rigidity, conformity, or faceless authority in corporate or official settings.

Related Terms to “Men in Suits”

Corporate executives – High-ranking officials in a company.
Businessmen – Individuals engaged in business activities, often in a formal or professional capacity.
White-collar workers – Professionals who typically work in office settings, often in management or administrative roles.
Executives – People in top management positions within organizations.
Professionals – Skilled workers in fields requiring formal education or training.
Office workers – Employees who work in office environments, often in administrative or managerial roles.
Power brokers – Influential people who have the ability to make decisions and negotiate deals.
Board members – Individuals who serve on a company’s board of directors, often in suits due to formal meetings.
The corporate elite – High-ranking professionals in the business world.
Suits – A colloquial term for business professionals, often used to describe people who are part of the corporate world.

Other Ways to Say the Phrase

There are many other ways in which you can say the term ‘men in suits.’

Here are some examples of how you might say it.

The big guns
Armed men

“Men in Suits” Examples

Examples in Statements

The first statement is being said by someone in the workplace.

‘You want to be careful slacking on your work like that, they will call the men in suits.”

This next statement is made by a new reporter.

‘The entire country is going to fall apart, but the men in suits have been summoned to fix the situation.’

Conversation Examples

You might hear the term ‘men in suits’ in many different conversations. Here are some examples of things you might hear.

The first conversation is taking place between some local MPs.

Person 1: “There are far too many issues in the area that we cannot deal with on our own.”
Person 2: “So what are we going to do?”
Person 1: “We will have to call in the men in suits.”

The second conversation is happening between a mother and daughter.

Person 1: “I don’t know how they are going to manage the riots in the city.”
Person 2: “There are teams of police working hard.”
Person 1: “That’s not enough.”
Person 2: “They will have to bring in the men in suits.”

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Liam Daniel

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