man power
Americannoun
-
the power supplied by human physical exertions.
an ancient building constructed entirely by man power.
-
a unit of power, assumed to be equal to the rate at which a person can do mechanical work, and commonly taken as 1/10 (0.1) horsepower.
-
rate of work in terms of this unit.
Etymology
Origin of man power
First recorded in 1860–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The walker was uninjured but quickly freed by "digging and man power".
From BBC • Oct. 17, 2022
“But the real finale was the reunion between survivors, everyone joining together and choosing to go on and refusing to give this one man power over their lives.”
From The Guardian • Jun. 23, 2020
Based on available production capacity, factory floor, and man power, Mr. Irwin concludes that there is some room for economic expansion in the US.
From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2017
A half-minute later, Pierce returned to man power forward, an event that altered the course of Game 1.
From Washington Post • Apr. 21, 2015
They thought only in divisions and man power.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
