all-American
Apple pie-ish
All-American describes someone or something embodying idealized American qualities—wholesomeness, athletic achievement, clean-cut appearance.
An all-American boy suggests apple-pie values and mainstream appeal.
In sports, all-American designates athletes selected as the best in the nation at the collegiate level: She was a two-time all-American in soccer.
The term can carry irony when the wholesome image masks something darker.
Pastry with cooked fruit
- family valuesBeliefs prioritizing domestic bonds
- heartlandCentral region of significance
- neighborlyFriendly toward those nearby
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
church picnic · scouts · Sunday dinner · backyard barbecue · hometown · golden retriever · baseball · summer camp
Primary school squad
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- lettermanDecorated school athlete
- quarterbackPassing position in football
- MVPBest player award
captain · recruit · prospect · starter · all-star · collegiate · sportsmanship · teamwork
Cloth symbol or signal
- anthemOfficial song of praise
- eagleLarge predatory bird
- stars and stripesFlag's visual elements
- red white and blueAmerican flag palette
Fourth of July · veteran · constitution · liberty · independence · Uncle Sam · Statue of Liberty · Mount Rushmore
Casual American eatery
- jukeboxCoin-operated music player
- mustangFree-roaming feral horse
- rock-n-rollAmplified popular music genre
- drive-inVenue serving seated motorists
malt shop · soda fountain · prom · homecoming · small town · front porch · rocking chair · picket fence
Favorable circumstance for advancement
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- ambitionDesire for achievement
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
- bootstrapStart without external resources
freedom · success · hard work · upward mobility · entrepreneurship · innovation · frontier spirit · can-do
apple pie
Pastry with cooked fruit
- family valuesBeliefs prioritizing domestic bonds
- heartlandCentral region of significance
- neighborlyFriendly toward those nearby
innocence · church picnic · scouts · Sunday dinner · backyard barbecue · hometown · golden retriever · baseball · summer camp · Thanksgiving
varsity
Primary school squad
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- lettermanDecorated school athlete
- quarterbackPassing position in football
MVP · captain · recruit · prospect · starter · all-star · collegiate · sportsmanship · teamwork · competition
flag
Cloth symbol or signal
- anthemOfficial song of praise
- eagleLarge predatory bird
- stars and stripesFlag's visual elements
red white and blue · Fourth of July · veteran · constitution · liberty · independence · Uncle Sam · Statue of Liberty · Mount Rushmore · democracy
diner
Casual American eatery
- jukeboxCoin-operated music player
- mustangFree-roaming feral horse
- rock-n-rollAmplified popular music genre
drive-in · malt shop · soda fountain · prom · homecoming · small town · front porch · rocking chair · picket fence · cornfields
opportunity
Favorable circumstance for advancement
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- ambitionDesire for achievement
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
bootstrap · freedom · success · hard work · upward mobility · entrepreneurship · innovation · frontier spirit · can-do · optimism
- all-all-star, all-out, all-in, all-time, all-clear
- athletesathlete, Olympian, champion, swimmers, runner
- winnerswinner, winners, champion, champions, victors
- recruitingrecruiter, recruiting, recruit, recruiters, headhunter
- Sports AwardsMVP, gold medal, silver medal, Gold Glove, bronze medal
all-Americanun-American
Contrary to national ideals
foreign · anti-American · alien · exotic · foreign-born
all-Americancountercultural
Opposing mainstream society
degenerate · unwholesome · anti-establishment · subversive · radical
all-Americanbenchwarmer
Seldom-used team member
second-string · mediocre · undistinguished · overlooked · amateur
America, American, Americana, Americanize, Americanized, Americanizing, Americas, Americanism, un-American