1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Man (Cambridge). Any undergraduate from
fifteen to thirty. As, a man of Emanuel—a young member of Emanuel.
Verb. (venery).—To possess a woman. For synonyms see Greens and Ride.
Dead man, subs. phr. (old).—A supernumerary.
1659–60. Pepys, Diary, 8 Mar. Philip Holland ... told me to have
five or six servants entered on board as dead men, and I to give
them what wages I pleased, and so their pay to be mine.
Man alive! phr. (common).—A mode of salutation. Used in remonstrance or
surprise.
Man of many morns, subs. phr. (Scots’).—A procrastinator.
Man of the world, subs. phr. (old: now colloquial).—See quot.
1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. Man of the world. A knowing man.
Man-Friday, subs. (common).—A factotum. [From the character in Robinson
Crusoe].
Man-a-hanging, subs. (old).—A man in difficulties.
The man in the moon, subs. phr. (political).—1. A mythical personage
who finds money for electioneering, and for such electors as vote
straight.
1866. Totness Election Petition, ‘Evidence of Mr. Rob. Harris.’ I
have had to deal with unknown gentlemen at Totnes before. A man in
the moon is the natural consequence of a Totnes election.
1881. Contemporary Review, xxxix. 869. My labourers were paid in a
public-house in the town by a man from behind a screen, who was
invisible; after the fashion of the man in the moon, who pays
bribes at elections.
1884. Graphic, 9 August, p. 123, col. 1. What would Mr. Schnadhorst
and the Six Hundred say if they were deprived of their favourite
occupation because a few weak-kneed fellow-townsmen had been caught
pocketing the guineas of some man in the moon.
1889. Daily Telegraph, 25 Nov. Formerly bribery and corruption were
personal. On or before the election day a mysterious stranger
descended on the town, and took up his abode in a retired chamber
of a private inn. The word was sent round, and there repaired to
his presence quietly, and one by one, those undecided electors who
were reported to have an itching palm. In many boroughs this
stranger was called The man in the moon, perhaps on account of the
‘silver lining’ to the voters’ pockets which resulted from his
hidden rays.