sonny

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an informal, often affectionate form of address to a boy or younger man

   Come along, sonny, and I'll show you where the tools are kept.

2. 2
   noun

   a patronizing or warning form of address to a male regarded as younger or less experienced

   Listen here, sonny, you cannot speak to the staff that way.

Common collocations

• sonny boy Noun + noun

An affectionate or familiar formation from son with the diminutive suffix -y. Depending on tone and context, the same form of address can sound warm, patronizing, or threatening.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images