Idioms with Names:

History of English Language

Chris JianglinTerri Yeh

Meanings and Origins

ORIGINFictitious figure: Jack Robinson

1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson

Jack Robinson

MEANING(A) very quickly(B) very naughtily(C) very ridiculously

Before you could say Jack Robinson, the bird flew away.

1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson

MEANINGThe youngest son in the family

(Especially when he is much younger than his brothers)

In modern use: + female childrenChristian, Muslim, and Jewish religions

2. Benjamin of the Family

ORIGINStory of Jacob in the Book of Genesis

Jacob and EsauBenjamin = “right hand son” in Hebrew

Origin of the name Benjamin

2. Benjamin of the Family

MEANINGan error in speech, memory or physical action

that is interpreted as occurring due to the interference of some unconscious subdued wish, conflict, or train of thought

3. Freudian Slip

ORIGINNamed after Sigmund FreudThe Psychopathology of Life

3. Freudian Slip

He let out a Freudian slip that could reveal his true personality.

"For seven and a half years I've worked alongside President Reagan. We've had triumphs. Made some mistakes. We've had some sex... uh... setbacks."

-A Freudian slip by President George H.W. Bush

3. Freudian Slip

MEANINGMacmillan Dictionary:

Someone who can do many types of work Jacks-of-all-trades

“Jacks of all trades, master of none”

4. Jack-of-all-trades

ORIGINA term of praise

Commonly used during the 17th century Jack = “man” 1618 – Geffray Mynshul’s Essays and Characters of a

Prison

A master of integration generalistPolymath?

4. Jack-of-all-trades

MEANING John/ Jane Doe: anonymous or unknown defendantRichard/ Jane Roe: anonymous or unknown plantiffNowadays,

1) an unnamed person in legal proceedings 2) an anonymous average citizen 3) a corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown

5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe

ORIGIN

5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe

A: landlord

C: tenant B:

notional landlord

ORIGINWhy is Doe and Roe?doe: venison; roe: kind of fish

TODAYBaby Doe; Princess Doe If my actual name is John Doe…?

5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe

MEANINGA person’s signature

Informal use in American English

6. John Hancock

ORIGINJohn Hancock was President of

Congress, signing Declaration of Independence

Why?

6. John Hancock

MEANING to try to achieve the same social position and wealth as one's neighbors or acquaintances

7. Keep up with the Joneses

ORIGINThe Jones: Edith Wharton’s father; rich New York family

New Yorkers build country villas in the Hudson Valley

TODAYNegative effect: conspicuous consumption

7. Keep up with the Joneses

MEANINGThe real thing, the genuine articleM. Dict.: Something that is real and not

a copy

8. The Real McCoy

ORIGINMichael Quinion of the WWW: Kid McCoy storyNorman Selby – an American champion boxer (1) to distinguish himself (2) “Which is the real McCoy?” (3) “It’s the real McCoy.”

8. The Real McCoy

ORIGINFirst recording occurred in James S.

Bond’s The Rise and Fall of the “Union club” (1881)

8. The Real McCoy

MEANING a person who is oblivious to changes, especially in social attitudes or thought

a person who sleeps a lot

9. Rip Van Winkle

ORIGIN  short story by the American author

Washington Irving

Setting: before and after American Revolution

Rip has been away from the village for 20

years…

9. Rip Van Winkle

MEANINGMacmillan Dictionary:

A way of referring to the US or the US government

The expression comes from the abbr “US”

10. Uncle Sam

ORIGINCame into use during the War of 1812

Samuel Wilson – a meat packer“E.A – US.”

By 1850s, Brother Jonathan ≒ Uncle SamNear the end of the Civil War (1861-65)

10. Uncle Sam

= “Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam”?

ORIGINJames Montgomery FlaggIrish language: Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá

(The United States of America)

10. Uncle Sam

“Benjamin (name).”Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 3 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_(name)

Bon mots. “What's in a name?–10idioms with names you got to know” WordPress.com.WordPress.com, 23 Jul. 2009. Web. 25 Dec. 2012.

“Idiom Category: Person's name, Page 1.” UsingEnglish.com. UsingEnglish.com Ltd., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012.

“Jack of all trades, master of none.”Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 5 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none

References

“John Hancock.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 23 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock

“The real McCoy.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_real_McCoy#cite_note-1

N. Kalu. “What Is the “Benjamin of the Family”?” wiseGEEK. Conjecture Corporation, n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012.

“Uncle Sam.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Sam

References

“Jack Robinson (mythical person).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Robinson_(mythical_person)

“Freudian Slip.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freudian_slip

“John Doe.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe

“Keep up with the Joneses.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses

References

“Rip van Winkle.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Van_Winkle

"Rip Van Winkle." Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged. 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003. HarperCollins Publishers 3 Jan. 2013 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Rip+Van+Winkle

Grose, Francis. A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue. Ed. Eric Partridge. London : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1963. Print.

References

The EndThe End