Would you refer to a younger or old man as chap?

[voswaa]

Having this debate with DH. For me I would use it for an older well to do gentleman but he would use in reference to a younger man.

Neither or either. Its not age related, just makes me cringe. I'd expect it from my parent generation at most, and I i think it is both pretentious and it's generally in a slightly patronising way ie 'what a jolly nice chap'.

Any age! When ds was little I used to call him "my little chap".

Both but out of interest when would you refer to a female as a woman rather than a girl?

I call everyone chap. Young, middle aged, older. Any nationality. It's a lovely moniker

Chap is the male equivalent of bird for a woman in my neck of the woods.

Chap means friend to me rather than man.
So I would would refer to my mates as chaps. Male or female.

I would use chap for any age of guy.
I also refer to guys as " chappie". As in Cheeky Chappie. I don't know how I picked that up because Max Miller was before my time.

I don't use the word myself, my dad does - he's in his eighties. I would feel self conscious using such a dated term really. It seems quaint to me, and I think it'll disappear as in general people younger than my parents' generation don't seem to use it.

I don't think it is supposed to designate younger or older men really, and certainly not how well off they are!

Have you never chapped on someone's door?!

Younger

Same.

Our cat is a 'handsome fellow.' Next door's equally wonderful cat is a 'sprightly chap.' 😂

I round up my team with come on chaps or come on gents. No diversity at all they're all male. I'm working on that.

If it disappears (which would be sad IMO), can it take "fella" and "geezer" with it?

Just out of interest, it is never used here in Canada.

Pretty much anyone can be referred to as chaps, no age connotation. I like it, it should be more widely used

I do use chap and sure my parents did too, (working class Scottish for the person who said it wasn't used up here) usually with an adjective when referring to someone. Eg that old chap/young chap/tall chap from down the road.

Interchangeable with bloke/guy/lad/loon.

I would only use it to address people in the plural ie come on chaps to the team (male and female).

I use it for a group of young men I am in a WhatsApp group with. I happen to be the only woman. They are too old to be called boys, but feel too young to be called gents, which also seems too formal and it's a faff to name them all every time i need to send them a quick message, so I just saying "Hi chaps". It feels a bit odd, but I can't think of a better word.

I don't think the age matters. It's just a general word for a man you don't know.

Both.

Default is bloke, but I also use chap, fella, and bod to refer to random males.

My mum works at an all boys school and uses ‘ok chaps!’ as a sub for ‘guys’ or ‘gentlemen’. All interchangeable. In my experience referring to people by a more sophisticated term sets expectations higher. We were always called ‘ladies’ rather than ‘girls’ at school for the same reason, I think.

Either, and boy children too. I'm fond of this word.

Both - it’s a very useful word in a variety of non formal circumstances

I’d say chap for a man of any age. I use the word often.