poor boy

noun

1. Southern U.S. (chiefly Gulf States). a hero sandwich.

Word History and Origins

Origin of poor boy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

“When he looked back on his life, his narrative was ‘poor boy makes good,’” Ms. Hodgin said in a phone interview.

From New York Times

Fortunately, he knew enough not to squander that second chance, finding the self-respect that turned a “poor boy, sneak-thief and vandal” into the sweet hero we meet in these pages.

From Seattle Times

"The poor boy spent the whole night perched in a tree," she said.

From BBC

In his campaign announcement, Santos didn’t mention any of that and instead highlighted his zeal in fighting for conservative principles in Washington and his background as “a poor boy of immigrant parents in Queens.”

From Seattle Times

There’s no quiz show in “Age of Vice,” but there is a poor boy who slides through a backdoor into a demimonde of degraded sophisticates.

From New York Times