Origin of the term "sugar daddy"?

[Torsten]

Hi, as far as I know the term "sugar daddy" emerged in the early 90ies and describes a wealthy man who gives expensive gifts to a younger woman in order to keep her interested in him.

Back in 1971 The Jackson 5 hat a successful hit single called "Sugar Daddy", too. My question is, how popular is the expression nowadays?

Thanks a lot,
Torsten

TOEIC short conversations: Sales clerk advises customer in jewelry store.

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

I've heard that term used for as long as I can remember. Etymology Online gives this definition of sugar-daddy: "elderly man who lavishes gifts on a young woman" and dates the first recorded usage as 1926.

How popular is the expression nowadays? Although it may be used somewhat less often today than in the past, the expression is still in use.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Diverhank]

Good question :). For us old folks, the term is still popular but I'm not sure regarding the younger generation. I asked my teenage daughter and son and neither of them have heard of the term...but then they are pretty shallow :).

[Jamie (K)]

The term "sugar daddy" is still alive and well, as evidenced by the proliferation of websites in the US for women who are looking for sugar daddies.

[NinaZara]

This is one of English expressions that is used in my own language. But I wonder what makes a person another person's sugar daddy. Does the younger woman have to sleep with the older guy to make him her sugar daddy? Or does he just buy her things to keep company? Nobody has ever given me the real answer to this. They always said, "Maybe".

[Jamie (K)]

It varies with the couple, Nina. Sometimes the girl sleeps with the man and he pays her college tuition, apartment rent, etc. Sometimes all she does is keep him company, go on dates with him, and listen to him talk, and that's enough for him to pay for things.

Some girls get a sugar daddy because of the money, but some of them don't care about the money and just want an older man's company. One time, just out of curiosity, I examined a website for girls looking for sugar daddies, and I read what the girls wrote, in order to figure out their motivation. It ranges from girls who want to be expensive prostitutes for just one man all the way to women who are frustrated with the immaturity of American men their own age and want to find an older husband.

[Beautyxoxo]

Hello all! I would just like to introduce the new elite website for real sugar daddies. it's called (something that we don't want to advertise here) and there is something on there for everyone! It is a place where average is not enough, and you will be able to find all the hottest sugar daddies and sugar babes in your area. Check it out sometime; you won't be disappointed!

[Yankee]

Clean up, aisle 4.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln