once a man, twice a child

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˌwʌn(t)s‿ə ˈmæn ˌtwaɪs‿ə ˈt͡ʃaɪld/ Rhymes: -aɪld === Proverb === once a man, twice a child A man is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when he deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state. Synonym: once a man, twice a boy Hypernym: once an adult, twice a child Coordinate term: once a woman, twice a child ==== Derived terms ==== once a woman, twice a child ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== retrogenesis second childhood