lady's man

• ladies' man

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lady's man (plural lady's men or ladies' men)

1. (idiomatic) A man who attracts women and enjoys their company.

   Synonym: (archaic) squire of dames

   • 1850, Herman Melville, chapter 42, in White Jacket:

     This promenading was chiefly patronised by the marines, and particularly by Colbrook, a remarkably handsome and very gentlemanly corporal among them. He was a complete lady's man; with fine black eyes, bright red cheeks, glossy jet whiskers, and a refined organisation of the whole man.

   • 1940, John Lee Mahin, Boom Town (motion picture), spoken by Jonathan Sand (Spencer Tracy):

     You know, Karen, I may not look much like a lady's man, but many a gal has cried when I left.

   • 1952, Cy Coben (lyrics and music), “Lady's Man”, performed by Hank Snow:

     Oh the gals won't leave me alone / I have to disconnect my phone / That's how it is when you're a lady's man

2. (idiomatic) A womanizer.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:libertine

   • 2008 March 9, “Klimt And The Golden Art Of Vienna”, in cbsnews.com‎^[1], archived from the original on 2008-03-13:

     He was the most celebrated portrait painter of his day, a notorious ladies' man, obsessed with women, pale beauties dressed in extravagant gowns . . . or nothing at all.