separate the men from the boys

Slang definitions & phrases for separate the men from the boys

separate the men from the boys

verb phrase

To show who is effective and who is not; separate the sheep from the goats: Every mayor knows snow can separate the men from the boys, or the two-termers from the one-termers (1962+)


Idioms and Phrases with separate the men from the boys

separate the men from the boys

Distinguish between mature, experienced individuals and novices, as in The picket line will separate the men from the boys in the union. The idiom is used without respect to gender. [ c. 1930 ]