Ahmed Mahmoud
What is the meaning of "​good ’ol boy" and " ’ol " in general?
Jan 30, 2017 8:32 PM
Comments · 6
2
You can use "good old/ol' " with any noun in a very casual context.  e.g. I gave the ball a good old kick right down the field. It adds a sense of informality, satisfaction/happiness, and perhaps a little emphasis.
January 30, 2017
1

In the United States, "good ol' boy" actually has a complicated cultural meaning. Here's Wikipedia's article about it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_ol'_boy

From the article I find, rather to my surprise, that the American Heritage dictionary actually has a definition:

"A man having qualities held to be characteristic of certain Southern white males, such as a relaxed or informal manner, strong loyalty to family and friends, and often an anti-intellectual bias and intolerant point of view."

To me--again, in the United States--it suggests someone who lives in one of the southern states or in the "sunbelt," is white, has a position in the local power structure and a degree of local influence, may not be extremely wealthy but is probably well off, is probably not especially well educated (with the possible exception of lawyers), possibly belongs to a golf club, service club, or lodge, and is generally respected by other good 'ol boys. He is probably not a "southern aristocrat." He might own a car dealership. He might be a real estate developer. He is almost certainly a Protestant.

Good ol' boys are "cronies" and look out for each others' interests.

It has both positive and negative aspects. It isn't necessarily negative, it depends on the context. 

I need to warn you, though--my personal knowledge of good ol' boys comes mostly from novels: John D. MacDonald's wonderful Travis McGee novels, from Carl Hiassen's comic novels, Elmore Leonard... and come to think of it, most of them are set in Florida.

January 31, 2017
Can't thank you enough for that amazing reply! 
January 31, 2017

come on ya gama3a, hwa mafich 7aga 2ismaha google?

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_ol'_boy

January 30, 2017
Thank you Hatem, Allah ykremak :)
January 30, 2017
Show more