Idioms based on peoples names

By Cecilia Brabin | May 6, 2009

 

 

any Tom, Dick or Harry

absolutely anyone/ everyone

 

for Pete’s sake

an exclamation to show exasperation/irritation

 idioms on names

even Stevens

everything is equal between people

 

jack the lad

a confident, frivolous young man behaving as he likes with no thought for others

 

peeping Tom

someone who tries to look through other peoples windows to spy on them in their homes

 

taking the Mickey

to tease someone

 

a Jekyll and Hyde

someone with 2 sides to their personality, one very pleasant and the other very unpleasant

 

 

Hobson’s choice

something that appears to be a free choice but is really no choice as there is no genuine alternative

 

Joe public

typical, average people

 

smart Alec

a conceited person who likes to show off how clever and knowledgeable they are

 

the real McCoy

the genuine article/ not fake

 

Jack of all trades

someone that can do many different jobs

This is not usually considered a complimentary saying since the full term is "Jack of all trades and master of none!"

Have a go at the quiz

 

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