cock of the walk
English
Pronunciation
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Noun
cock of the walk (plural cocks of the walk)
- (idiomatic) A proud or conceited person.
- c. 19th century, J. M. Crofts (attributed), The Irish Rover
- With his smart witty talk
- He was cock of the walk
- And he rolled the dames under and over
- 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, H.L. Brækstad, transl., Folk and Fairy Tales, page 71:
- "That fellow was not born yesterday. He is the cock of the walk here," said Peter; "I shouldn't wonder if it is our old friend himself." Three more birds came in, and as each took up his roosting place, the old bird repeated his challenge by snapping his beak at them.
- c. 19th century, J. M. Crofts (attributed), The Irish Rover
Synonyms
- cock of the roost, rooster