house man—
1. a person hired to perform general work about a house:
- She went through to tell the house-man to clear away the tea.
2. house detective employed by a department store, hotel, etc.:
- He … grinned at me sociably. “I’m the house man here. Spill it.”
3. a doctor who has a junior post in a hospital; an intern who serves in residence at a hospital:
- After qualification you have to spend a year working as a hospital houseman.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase house husband—a man who stays at home while his spouse works outside the home:
- John tried being the house husband for some years, but I’d prefer not to give up my work.
man of the house—the chief male in a household:
- Look at him! The man of the house! Why don’t you talk to me? I’m your wife, aren’t I?
Cf.: little man of the house—said of a child who is the top male of the household:
- “Little man of the house,” his grandmother said, chuckling. Vince was four years old when his father split.