- Home
- Idioms
- john
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
one's John Henry
and one's John Hancockone's signature. Just put your John Henry on this line, and we'll bring your new car around.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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]
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]
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]
John Q. Public
big John
n. the police; a police officer. Big John took her in and hit her with a vice rap.
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.
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.
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.
John(ny) Law
n. a law officer. John Law showed up with a piece of paper that says you are in trouble.
John Law
verbsquare 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.
square john broad
n. an honest, straightforward woman. (Underworld.) We need a square john broad to give this place a look of respectability.
who shot John
n. moonshine; illicit whiskey. (Prohibition.) You know where I can get a little of that who shot John?