Idiom Category: Person's name, Page 1

Achilles' heel

A person's weak spot is their Achilles' heel.

Adam's apple

The Adam's apple is a bulge in the throat, mostly seen in men.

Any Tom, Dick or Harry

If something could be done by any Tom, Dick or Harry, it could be done by absolutely anyone.

Barkus is willing

This idiom means that someone is willing to get married.

Before you can say Jack Robinson

The term Jack Robinson represents 'a short amount of time'. When you do something before you can say Jack Robinson, you do it very quickly.

Benjamin of the family

The Benjamin of the family is the youngest child.

Buggles' turn

(UK) If it Buggles' turn, someone gets promotion through length of service rather than ability, especially in the British civil service.

Davey Jones' locker

Davey Jones' locker is the bottom of the sea or resting place of drowned sailors.('Davy Jones' locker' is an alternative spelling.)

Do a Lord Lucan

(UK) If someone disappears without a trace or runs off, they do a Lord Lucan.  (Lord Lucan disappeared after a murder)

Even Stevens

If everything is equal between people, they are even Stevens.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry

If every Tom, Dick and Harry knows about something, then it is common knowledge.

For Pete's sake

This is used as an exclamation to show exasperation or irritation.

For the love of Pete

Usually used in exasperation, as in 'Oh, for the love of Pete!'

Freudian Slip

If someone makes a Freudian slip, they accidentally use the wrong word, but in doing so reveal what they are really thinking rather than what they think the other person wants to hear.

Going Jesse

(USA) If something is a going Jesse, it's a viable, successful project or enterprise.

Great Scott

An exclamation of surprise.

Happy as Larry

When you're as happy as Larry, you're very happy indeed.

Heath Robinson

(UK) If a machine or system is described as Heath Robinson, it is very complicated, but not practical or effective, named after a cartoonist who drew very complicated machines that performed simple tasks.

Hobson's choice

A Hobson's choice is something that appears to be a free choice, but is really no choice as there is no genuine alternative.

Home, James

(UK) This is a cliched way of telling the driver of a vehicle to start driving. It is supposed to be an order to a chauffeur (a privately employed driver).  The full phrase is 'Home, James, and don't spare the horses'.

In like Flynn

Refers to Errol Flynn's popularity with women in the 40's. His ability to attract women was well known throughout the world.  ('In like flint' is also used.)

Is Saul also among the prophets?

It's a biblical idiom used when somebody known for something bad appears all of a sudden to be doing something very good.

Jack the Lad

A confident and not very serious young man who behaves as he wants to without thinking about other people is a Jack the Lad.

Jack-of-all-trades

A jack-of-all-trades is someone that can do many different jobs.

Jane Doe

Jane Doe is a name given to an unidentified female who may be party to legal proceedings, or to an unidentified person in hospital, or dead. John Doe is the male equivalent.

Jekyll and Hyde

Someone who has a Jekyll and Hyde personality has a pleasant and a very unpleasant side to the character.

Job's comforter

Someone who says they want to comfort, but actually discomforts people is a Job's comforter. (Job's is pronounced 'jobes', not 'jobs')

John Doe

John Doe is a name given to an unidentified male who may be party to legal proceedings, or to an unidentified person in hospital, or dead. Jane Doe is the female equivalent.

John Hancock

(USA) John Hancock means a signature- his signature on the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence is very prominent.

John Q Public

(USA) John Q Public is the typical, average person.

Johnny on the spot

A person who is always available; ready, willing, and able to do what needs to be done.('Johnny-on-the-spot' is also used.)

Jumping Judas!

An expression of surprise or shock.

Mickey Mouse

If something is Mickey Mouse, it is intellectually trivial or not of a very high standard.

Midas touch

If someone has the Midas touch, they make a lot of money out of any scheme they try.

Nervous Nellie

Someone excessively worried or apprehensive is a nervous Nellie (or Nelly).

Painted Jezebel

A painted Jezebel is a scheming woman.

Pandora's box

If you open a Pandora's box, something you do causes all sorts of trouble that you hadn't anticipated.

Patience of Job

If something requires the patience of Job, it requires great patience.

Peeping Tom

A peeping Tom is someone who tries to look through other people's windows without being seen in order to spy on people in their homes.

Raise Cain

(USA) If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance.

Real McCoy

Something that's the real McCoy is the genuine article, not a fake.

Rich as Croesus

Someone who is as rich as Croesus is very wealthy indeed.

Rip van Winkle

Rip van Winkle is a character in a story who slept for twenty years, so if someone is a Rip van Winkle, they are behind the times and out of touch with what's happening now.

Smart Alec

A smart Alec is a conceited person who likes to show off how clever and knowledgeable they are.

Take the Mickey

(UK) If you take the Mickey, you tease someone. ('Take the Mick' is also used.)

Uncle Sam

(USA) Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.

Vicar of Bray

(UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray

Walter Mitty

A Walter Mitty character is an unexceptional person who is prone to daydreaming of personal triumphs.

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