john



John Thomas

slang A man's penis. Primarily heard in UK. The footballer lay on the ground in agony after being struck in the John Thomas by a defender's foot.
See also: john, Thomas

stage-door Johnny

A man who spends a lot of time at a theater so as to seek the romantic attention, favor, or company of an actress. Ms. Gabler is such a stunning beauty that she always has some stage-door Johnny or another waiting for her after the curtain falls each night.
See also: johnny

Dear John letter

A letter sent, typically from a woman to a man, to end a romantic relationship. Mike was clearly upset when he received a Dear John letter from his girlfriend, Caroline. He thought their relationship was going well and didn't expect it to end so suddenly. Mail call was usually a happy time in the military barracks, except for the unlucky soldiers who got Dear John letters from their sweethearts back home.
See also: dear, john, letter

put (one's) John Hancock on

To sign one's name on a document or other item. John Hancock, an influential figure in the American Revolution, is known for his especially large and legible signature on the Declaration of Independence. As soon as you put your John Hancock on these papers, you'll be the proud owner of a brand new car! I would never have put my John Hancock on such an unfavorable contract—I think my signature was forged.
See also: Hancock, john, on, put

a Dear John letter

a letter a woman writes to her boyfriend telling him that she does not love him anymore. Bert got a Dear John letter today from Sally. He was devastated.
See also: dear, john, letter

one's John Henry

 and one's John Hancock
one's signature. Just put your John Henry on this line, and we'll bring your new car around.
See also: henry, john

a Dear John letter

  (humorous)
a letter that you send to a man telling him you want to end a romantic relationship with him I've always thought Dear John letters a cowardly way of ending a relationship.
See also: dear, john, letter

John Bull

  (old-fashioned)
a character who represents a typical English man or the English people
Usage notes: This phrase comes from a book called The History of John Bull written by John Arbuthnot in 1712.
In the cartoon, John Bull appears as a short, stocky figure wearing a waistcoat with the British flag on.
See also: bull, john

John Doe

  (American)
a man or boy whose real name must be kept secret or is not known, especially in a court of law The patient was referred to in court documents as John Doe.
See also: doe, john

your John Hancock

  (American humorous)
your signature
Usage notes: John Hancock's signature was the biggest signature on the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.
If you put your John Hancock on the last page we'll be finished with the formalities.
See also: Hancock, john

John Q Public

  (American humorous)
the public You have to ask yourself what John Q Public will think when he hears about the government overspending.
See also: john, public

cheap skate

A stingy person, as in He's a real cheap skate when it comes to tipping. This idiom combines cheap (for "penurious") with the slang usage of skate for a contemptible or low individual. It has largely replaced the earlier cheap John. [Slang; late 1800s]
See also: cheap, skate

John Doe

1. Also, John Q. Public; Joe Blow; Joe Doakes; Joe Zilch. An average undistinguished man; also, the average citizen. For example, This television show is just right for a John Doe, or It's up to John Q. Public to go to the polls and vote. Originally used from the 13th century on legal documents as an alias to protect a witness, John Doe acquired the sense of "ordinary person" in the 1800s. The variants date from the 1900s. Also see Joe six-pack.
2. Also, Jane Doe. An unknown individual, as in The police found a John Doe lying on the street last night, or The judge issued a warrant for the arrest of the perpetrators, Jane Doe no. 1 and Jane Doe no. 2 . [Second half of 1900s]
See also: doe, john

John Hancock

Also, John Henry. One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line. This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for "Hancock." [Mid-1800s]
See also: Hancock, john

John Q. Public

see under John Doe.
See also: john, public

big John

n. the police; a police officer. Big John took her in and hit her with a vice rap.
See also: big, john

Dear John letter

n. a letter a woman writes to her boyfriend in the military service telling him that she does not love him anymore. Sally sends a Dear John letter about once a month.
See also: dear, john, letter

john

1. n. a toilet; a bathroom. Is there another john around here?
2. n. a man. This john came up and asked if I had seen the girl in a picture he had.
3. n. a prostitute’s customer. She led the john into an alley where Lefty robbed him.
4. n. a victim of a crime or deception; a sucker. The john went straight to the cops and told the whole thing.

John Doe

and Jane Doe (ˈdʒɑn ˈdo)
n. a name used for a person whose real name is unknown. The tag on the corpse said Jane Doe, since no one had identified her. John Doe was the name at the bottom of the check.
See also: doe, john

John Hancock

n. one’s signature. (Refers to the signature of John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.) Put your John Hancock right here, if you don’t mind.
See also: Hancock, john

John(ny) Law

n. a law officer. John Law showed up with a piece of paper that says you are in trouble.
See also: johnny, law

John Law

verb
See also: john, law

square john

and square apple
n. someone who obeys the rules; a square. Fred is a square john. There’s no point in worrying about him. I look like a square john, but I’m really quite a devil.
See also: john, square

square john broad

n. an honest, straightforward woman. (Underworld.) We need a square john broad to give this place a look of respectability.
See also: broad, john, square

who shot John

n. moonshine; illicit whiskey. (Prohibition.) You know where I can get a little of that who shot John?
See also: john, shot, who

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
ClÍOdhnaKLEE-u-naIrish, Irish Mythology
Odtsetseg-Mongolian
Thompson['tɔmpsn]
Mariona-Catalan
Mahthildis-Ancient Germanic
Bartomeu-Catalan