lad

be one of the boys

To be an accepted member of a particular social group, especially one made up primarily or entirely of males (usually men, not boys). Primarily heard in US. John's a nice guy and all, but he's just not one of the boys. As a woman working in this industry, you have to be one of the boys while still being seen distinctly as a lady.
See also: boy, of, one

be one of the girls

To be an accepted member of a particular social group, especially one made up primarily or entirely of females (usually women, not girls). Jen's nice and all, but she's just not one of the girls.
See also: girl, of, one

be one of the lads

To be an accepted member of a particular social group, especially one made up primarily or entirely of males (usually men, not boys). Primarily heard in UK. John's a nice guy and all, but he's just not one of the lads. As a woman working in this industry, you have to be one of the lads while still being seen distinctly as a lady.
See also: lad, of, one

Jack the Lad

A confident, carefree young man. Primarily heard in UK. Jim's a bit of a Jack the Lad—he likes his job as a bicycle courier and doesn't care what anybody else thinks.
See also: jack, lad

one of the lads

An accepted member of a particular social group, especially one made up primarily or entirely of men. Primarily heard in UK. John's a nice guy and all, but he just never seemed like one of the lads. As a woman working in this industry, you have to both be one of the lads and still be seen distinctly as a lady.
See also: lad, of, one

since Adam was a wee lad

For a very long time. An allusion to Adam, the first human created by God in the Bible. What does Grandma mean when she says she's been teaching third grade since Adam was a wee lad?
See also: Adam, lad, since, wee
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

one of the lads

BRITISH
If you describe a man as one of the lads, you mean that he is accepted as being part of a group of men who behave in ways which are considered typically masculine. He likes being one of the lads, you know, drinking beer down the pub. He is immensely popular, truly one of the lads. Compare with one of the boys.
See also: lad, of, one
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a ˌJack the ˈLad

(British English, slang) a young man who is very confident in a noisy way, and enjoys going out with male friends, drinking alcohol and trying to attract women: He used to be a bit of a Jack the Lad — I never thought he’d settle down and get married.This was originally the nickname of an 18th-century thief called Jack Sheppard.
See also: jack, lad

be one of the ˈlads/ˈboys/ˈgirls

(informal) be a member of a group of friends of the same sex and a similar age, who meet regularly to enjoy themselves: His wife doesn’t understand that he likes being one of the lads from time to time. She’s never really been one of the girls. She much prefers the company of men.
See also: boy, girl, lad, of, one
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be one of the boys
  • be one of the lads
  • be one of the lads/boys/girls
  • one of the boys
  • one of the lads
  • chip
  • chips
  • up on (one's) ear
  • wear rose-colored glasses
  • lot lizard
References in classic literature
"There's a fight, lads!" And, still rolling up his sleeve, he went out to the porch.
War and Peace
It was a new and astonishing spectacle to Rose, fresh from a prim boarding-school, and she watched the active lads with breathless interest, thinking their antics far superior to those of Mops, the dear departed monkey.
Eight Cousins
As he came up with them, he saw that two little lads, the one about nine years of age and the other somewhat older, were standing on the plot in front of the cottage, each holding out a round stick in their left hands, with their arms stiff and straight from the shoulder, as silent and still as two small statues.
The White Company
When it was getting near nine o'clock he went out to the garden to wait till she came, and the fair-haired lad along with him; but as soon as the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into his master's coat again and he fell asleep as before.
Yellow Fairy Book
Had he known what further the boy contemplated he would doubtless have entirely abandoned his own scheme of revenge and aided the boy whole heartedly in the consummation of the lad's, which would have been better for Paulvitch, could he have but read the future but a few short hours ahead.
Son Of Tarzan
I could hear them bickering among themselves as to whose fault it was; some were weeping--for themselves, for me, and for the disgraceful way their lads had behaved.
John Barleycorn
An incident which happened about this time will set the characters of these two lads more fairly before the discerning reader than is in the power of the longest dissertation.
The History of Tom Jones a Foundling
"Now, lad," said he, "tell us thy troubles, and speak freely.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
The lad, waiting in the front garden, followed her.
Man And Wife
Yes, and when I have my flock, I'll just point to you, and say `There's your model, my lads'."
Little Women
Nathless, Robin contented himself with parrying, and was loth to exert all his superior strength upon the lad. So the fight lasted for above a quarter of an hour, at the end of which time the page was almost spent and the hot blood flushed his cheeks in a most charming manner.
Robin Hood
Dost know of such a place, lad, as Kingsbere-sub-Greenhill?"
Tess of the dUrbervilles A Pure Woman
At this reply Mr Witherden buried his nose in the flowers again, and whispered behind the nosegay to the old gentleman that he believed the lad was as honest a lad as need be.
The Old Curiosity Shop
"He wasnae a good lad at the best of it, and I've nae call to interfere."
Kidnapped
"Eh, my lad, he went aff to Treddles'on this forenoon, an's niver come back.
Adam Bede