poor man's

idiom

1
used to refer to someone (such as a performer) who is like another person in some ways but not as talented or successful
a young actor who is said to be the poor man's James Dean
2
used to refer to something that is like something else but not as expensive
Pewter is the poor man's silver.

Cite this Entry

“Poor man's.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poor%20man%27s. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.

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