Personal Names Idioms

Personal Names Idioms are a fascinating aspect of the English language. These idioms use the names of people to convey a certain meaning or situation. For example, the idiom “Jack of all trades” refers to someone skilled in many different areas. Meanwhile, the idiom “Rob Peter to pay Paul” means to solve one problem by creating another.

List of Idioms about Names

• Not Know Jack
• The Real McCoy
• No Names, No Pack Drill
• Any Tom, Dick or Harry
• Rob Peter to Pay Paul
• On the Fritz
• Jack of All Trades
• Even Steven
• (Between) Buckley’s and Nunn
• Peeping Tom
• Doubting Thomas
• Lazy Susan
• Johnny-on-the-spot
• Smart Alec(k)
• Average Joe
• Joe Bloggs
• Uncle Sam
• For Pete’s sake
• Keeping up with the Joneses
• Plain Jane

Personal Names Idioms with Meaning

Idiom	Meaning
Not Know Jack	To not know something; to be ignorant.
The Real McCoy	The genuine article; is something authentic or of high quality.
No Names, No Pack Drill	To avoid giving specifics to prevent trouble or repercussions.
Any Tom, Dick, or Harry	Any ordinary person; people in general, without regard for their individuality.
Rob Peter to Pay Paul	To take from one person or thing to give to another, often creating a new problem.
On the Fritz	Not working properly; malfunctioning.
Jack of All Trades	A person who is competent in many skills but may not excel in any particular one.
Even Steven	Having nothing owed on either side; being in a situation where everything is equal.
(Between) Buckley’s and Nunn	It’s an Australian idiom meaning having no chance at all.
Peeping Tom	A person who secretly watches others, especially for sexual gratification.
Doubting Thomas	A person who is skeptical and refuses to believe something without proof.
Lazy Susan	A revolving tray is often used on dining tables to pass items around with ease.
Johnny-on-the-spot	Someone present and ready to perform a task or respond to a situation.
Smart Alec(k)	A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
Average Joe	An ordinary person with nothing special or remarkable about them.
Joe Bloggs	A name used to represent the average man or everyman; a typical person.
Uncle Sam	A personification of the United States government or the country in general.
For Pete’s sake	An exclamation of frustration or impatience.
Keeping up with the Joneses	Competing with one’s neighbors in social status and material goods.
Plain Jane	A unadorned woman, simple in appearance, or lacking in obvious beauty or allure.

Personal Names Idioms with Example Sentences

Idiom	Example Sentences
Not Know Jack	He claims to be an expert, but when it comes to the details, he doesn’t know Jack.
The Real McCoy	If you’re looking for authentic leather, this is the real McCoy.
No Names, No Pack Drill	Let’s keep this discussion off the record: no names, no pack drill.
Any Tom, Dick or Harry	She won’t just date any Tom, Dick, or Harry; she’s very selective.
Rob Peter to Pay Paul	Taking out another loan to pay off the first one is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
On the Fritz	My old laptop is on the fritz again; it might be time for an upgrade.
Jack of All Trades	He’s a jack of all trades, skilled at carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work.
Even Steven	After paying back the $20 I owed, we’re Even Steven now.
(Between) Buckley’s and Nunn	I have Buckley’s and Nunn of winning the race against those professional runners.
Peeping Tom	The neighborhood peeping Tom was caught spying on residents.
Doubting Thomas	I’ll believe it when I see it; call me a doubting Thomas.
Lazy Susan	Pass the salt, please; just spin the lazy Susan around.
Johnny-on-the-spot	Whenever there’s an emergency, he’s Johnny-on-the-spot with a solution.
Smart Alec	Stop being such a Smart Alec and just listen to what I’m saying.
Average Joe	He’s just an average Joe, living a simple life with no interest in fame or fortune.
Joe Bloggs	Joe Bloggs might not care about the new tax law, but it affects him nonetheless.
Uncle Sam	Many people see Uncle Sam as a symbol of the United States government.
For Pete’s sake	For Pete’s sake, can you please turn down the music? It’s too loud!
Keeping up with the Joneses	They bought a new car not because they needed one, but simply to keep up with the Joneses.
Plain Jane	Despite being a plain Jane, she has a vibrant personality that draws people to her.