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a person who eats human flesh
a woman who seduces men and leaves them once she loses interest
SlangWhat is the origin and meaning of the word "man-eater"?
In modern slang, man-eater refers to a woman who seduces men with charm and allure, then ends the relationship once she loses interest, often leaving the man emotionally hurt. This figurative meaning developed in the early 20th century from the older literal sense of a predator that kills and eats humans. Literature, music, and films helped popularize the term as a way to describe a femme fatale type of character. The imagery draws on the idea of a predator's power and dominance, but in this case the "prey" is not physically harmed, only left heartbroken or discarded.
