General
cake-eater
What does cake-eater mean?
A foppish young man who frequents tea dances and parties, more interested in flirting than working; a lady-killer.
"That cake-eater spent the whole afternoon charming the chaperones."
Origin
1920s American slang for a ladies' man or dandy, the type who turned up where the cake and tea were served. It is documented in Jazz Age glossaries and H.L. Mencken's surveys; 'sheik' was a near-synonym for the same flashy male type.
Frequently asked questions
What does cake-eater mean in 1920s slang?
It means a smooth, idle ladies' man or dandy who frequented parties and tea dances.
Is cake-eater an insult?
It is mildly mocking, implying the man is more decorative and flirtatious than hardworking.
What is the female equivalent of a cake-eater?
There is no exact match, but the flapper and the 'vamp' covered some of the same flirtatious, fashionable ground for women.
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