man of the cloth

man of the cloth

A priest or clergyman. Ever since he was young, John knew he wanted to become a man of the cloth.
See also: cloth, man, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

man of the cloth

Fig. a clergyman. Father Brown is a man of the cloth and is welcome at our table for dinner every Sunday.
See also: cloth, man, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

man of the cloth

a clergyman.
Jonathan Swift used cloth as an informal term for the clerical profession in the early 18th century, but it was earlier applied to several other occupations for which distinctive clothing was worn, e.g. the legal or military professions.
See also: cloth, man, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌman of ˈGod/the ˈcloth

(old-fashioned, formal) a religious man, especially a priest or a clergyman
See also: cloth, god, man, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • take the cloth
  • a man of parts
  • a man/woman of parts
  • in cloth
  • a man of God/the cloth
  • a man, woman, etc. after your own heart
  • a man after (one's) own heart
  • a man of few words
  • a man/woman of few words
  • a man of the world
References in periodicals archive
MAN OF THE CLOTH: Arthur Darvill, also below, as Rev Paul Coates in Broadchurch
DARVILL BROADENS HORIZONS
Can the man of the cloth successfully steer our hero away from his path of destruction and ensure the villagers are spared from tyranny?
ROBIN HOOD BBC One Wales, tonight, 6.50pm
MEET Rev Simon Beveridge, a man of the cloth - the saddlecloth.
He's under holy orders . .
AXED X Factor judge LOUIS WALSH let rip with a foul-mouthed rant on a packed flight - only to realise he was talking to a man of the cloth.
ViP: WALSH YOUR MOUTH OUT LOUIS; Sacked XXXX Factor judge tells PRIEST: These are my seats.. Don't you know who I am? F*** off!
It is indeed, and it would be odd if a man of the cloth possessed skills to enable him to enter a car other than his own in such a way as to activate the alarm..
Strange case of a bishop in the night; YOUR VOICE IN WALES
A man of the cloth was presiding over a marriage of his daughter, who loved a lady enough to marry her, and the father has been found guilty and punished.
Guilty for loving his daughter
Not only has he failed to credit a man of the cloth, but Rep.
Life, liberty, & the pursuit of health care
Their 'raw testimonials' provide a stark insight into the cloistered worlds of the Venetian lady and man of the cloth, both steeped in hypocrisy and corruption.
Books: Loredana: A Venetian Tale, by Lauro Martines. Jonathan Cape. pounds 14.99. Reviewed by Vivienne Morgan
With an economy of language and a precision rare in the current atmosphere of linguistic exorbitance, the author is able paint vividly the comic torment of this man of the cloth: "A few minutes later she directed him to a bare spot behind some oak trees, near a canal.
Gerald Locklin. A Simpler Time, A Simpler Place: Three Mid-Century Stories
We remember a man of the cloth who made wine from milk in Alaska several years ago.
Add Alaska
Were it not for his way with words--"bloodsucking Jews" is one of his boilerplate phrases--and a reputation built on a rather nasty hoax--the Tawana Brawley affair--this humble man of the cloth might only be known to us as a fat, medallioned tax cheat.
Conspiracy: How the Paranoid Style Flourishes and Where It Comes From
"We are sad with the remarks of Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos that the Duterte presidency is a disgrace to the country, especially coming from a man of the cloth," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
Palace hits Balanga bishop for 'lambasting' Duterte
The man of the cloth said he will continue preaching the Gospel.
Clerics dispute election of Bishop Kalu successor, vow to sue
Rosarosoalso known as "Father Onie"said the public should be suspicious once the bogus man of the cloth begins asking for money for his services.
Beware of fake priests
As a man of the cloth, one of the best is the Crystal Methodist.
Credit where it's due to the bank boss jokers; Des Clarke Listen to Des weekdays on the Capital FM Breakfast Show