Help with a saying, please......

Posted by James Briggs April 06, 2004In reply to Help with a saying, please...... posted by Bruce Kahl on April 06, 2004

Does anyone know where the phrase "strapping young man" comes from and the meaning of the phrase?

Thanks in advance

A strapping young man is a man who is very well proportioned and strong, someone in really good physical shape.
I have no idea where it came from.

The word is first recorded in this sense in the 1600s. Sadly, my reference source gives no origin.