I serve my family by giving them massages. I entertain them. I finance them. I'm the only looker after of my family. What is a suitable word in place of the expression in bold?
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Caretaker / carer?– LawrenceOct 25, 2018 at 4:28
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What exactly do you mean by "look after"? Do you lend them money when they ask? Help with chores? Do all the duties a nursing home would do?– Laurel ♦Oct 25, 2018 at 4:33
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I serve them by pressing their body. I entertain them. I finance them.– Abdullah1Oct 25, 2018 at 4:35
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@Abdullah1 By "pressing their body" do you actually mean "give massages" or something else entirely? It's not really idiomatic here.– Laurel ♦Oct 25, 2018 at 4:48
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@laurel pressing here means massage without oil. For example, one you press someone's shoulder or feet etc. then it feels relaxing for him. We do it without oil.– Abdullah1Oct 25, 2018 at 5:06
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2 Answers
It's not entirely clear what you mean by look after. Going by your example sentence, I suspect you mean provider or breadwinner.
provider
1 A person or thing that provides something.
‘a leading provider of personal financial services’1.1 A person who earns money to support their family.
‘he didn't like the thought of Dad being the sole provider for the family again’breadwinner
A person who earns money to support their family, typically the sole one.
‘when Roland's grant ran out, Val became the breadwinner’
answered Oct 25, 2018 at 4:40
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Might I recommend adding "head" and "man of the house"? Not that they're necessary as "provider" is the best answer, I think, but for completion's sake? Oct 25, 2018 at 4:42
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Great substitution words from all, breadwinner, caretaker, provider. Thumbs up! :-) Oct 25, 2018 at 4:46
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3@SoraTamashii In many cultures, the head of the family is the one being looked after by the rest of the family, not the other way around. Especially if he is the "man of the house". Oct 25, 2018 at 4:51
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That's fair. I was actually giving my suggestion under an American perspective. You made a good point, and I now apologize for my response. Abdullah1, be sure to accept his answer with the green check if that solved your question for you. :) Oct 25, 2018 at 4:53
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1@SoraTamashii No need to apologize; it's a pertinent point on both sides. Especially since the question is (still) not entirely clear. Oct 25, 2018 at 4:56
carer
noun
British
A family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.
However, the OP's coinage of *"looker after" would be perfect, if only it were a set phrase or idiom.
