The Little Man In The Boat – The Meaning, Origin and Usage

If you’ve ever heard of the phrase ‘the little man in the boat’, it’s not always clear what the person means. This is especially the case when you find out that the little man in the boat does not apply to men at all, and in stark contrast is used to refer to a small, but arguably important, part of the female body.

What is the Meaning of the Phrase ‘The little man in the Boat’?

The phrase ‘The little man in the boat’ refers to the clitoris (or ‘clit’ for short), which is a particularly sensitive part of the female anatomy.

Sometimes the phrase is spoken and written a little differently, for example as ‘the man in the boat’ (i.e. minus the ‘little’), or as ‘the little boy in the boat’ which can be considered less tasteful.

What is the Origin of the Phrase ‘The little man in the Boat’?

The phrase ‘The little man in the boat’ is believed to originate from the late 1800s, from the pen of the British author William Ernest Henley (1849-1903), and by the British lexicographer John Stephen Farmer (1854-1916). It appears in the book Slang and its Analogues Past and Present, published in 1896. 

It’s next seen in literature in the book Sitting on a Fortune: The Prostitute in London, by Wayland Young, published in 1959. Then it appears in the Evening Journal dated 24th of March 1972, in an article from the pen of Cathy Wolff.

Perhaps the best quote using the phrase in written works comes from the U.S. novelist Frederick Exley, in his book Pages From a Cold Island, published in 1975. It reads ‘…we’d known forever about the “button” or the “little man in the boat” and that a man bent on giving a woman pleasure must approach this cute little bugger with a certain worldly and heady enthusiasm.’

Fast forward to modern day, and the phrase continues to be used in very informal and intimate circumstances and erotic literature. It is also regularly seen in online sexual health forums, and in stand up comedy.

How do you Use the Phrase ‘The little man in the Boat’?

If you are in polite company, you may not wish to use the word clit or clitoris, in case it would be considered vulgar. In this instance you may prefer to use an alternative description, such as ‘The little man in the boat’.

The phrase can also be used to describe where in the female anatomy the clit resides. The phrase does not tend to be used for female genitalia in general, but for a very specific spot.

Here are some examples of the phrase in use:

‘He touched the little man in the boat.’

‘She didn’t need any help finding the little man in the boat!’

‘He spent all night looking for the little man in the boat.’

‘It’s there, look – the little man in the boat.’

‘How can I describe it? It’s the little man in the boat.’

‘The little man in the boat could use some attention.’

‘If you want to keep her happy, you’d better find your way to the little man on the boat.’

He’s pathetic – he paid no attention at all to the little man in the boat.’

‘First you have to go to the little man in the boat, or it just ain’t gonna happen.’

‘The little man in the boat is feeling particularly sensitive today.

‘The little man in the boat is swollen.’

‘Suck the little man in the boat.’

‘Flick the little man in the boat.’

‘Touch the little man in the boat.’

‘Say Hi to the little man in the boat.’

‘I want you to pet the little man in the boat.’

‘That little man in the boat is so cute.’

‘Lick the little man in the boat.’

‘Give the little man in the boat a kiss, he’s feeling left out.’

Alternative Words and Phrases

If the person or people you are speaking with don’t seem familiar with the phrase ‘The little man in the boat’, some alternative words follow:

• ‘Clitoris’
• ‘Clit’
• ‘Button’
• ‘Special button’
• ‘Devil’s doorbell’
• ‘Happy button’
• ‘Bean’
• ‘Hood’
• ‘Love button’
• ‘Sweet Spot’.

Final Thoughts

So to recap, ‘the little man in the boat’ refers to the female clitoris, a sensitive part of the female anatomy.

If you find yourself in the company of someone who you would not want to offend, you may be better off using the phrase ‘little man in the boat’ as opposed to ‘clitoris’ or ‘clit’.

However, if you are afraid of causing offence, it may be better to avoid the topic altogether. It should not be used around the table with the in-laws for instance.