PNJA DW (12/03)

A British policeman is sometimes called a “……”. The name comes from Sir Rober Peer, the founder of the first London police force.

bobby

It is often said of someone who can do many different things that he is a ……

Jack of all trades

Someone who spies on other people, especially by looking through their windows, is called a …...

peeping Tom

Oh, don’t take any notice of him. He thinks he knows everything. He’s just a …...

smart Alec

He’s a real snob. He’s only interested in people who are rich or famous. He won’t talk to any ….. (meaning: any ordinary people)

Tom, Dick or Harry

When the Wright brothers invented the first aeroplane which actually flew, there was many a …… who said that air-travel would never be commercially successful.

doubting Thomas

No, I’m sure I’ve never met him. He’s a complete stranger. Really, I …...

don’t know him from Adam

The couple next door are very conscious of their social position. They’ve got a new car, a modern kitchen, trendy new clothes. They don’t really need them. They’re just …...

keeping up with the Joneses

It’s ridiculous to borrow from your uncle to settle your debt to your cousin. That’s just …...

robbing Peter to pay Paul

One man insulted another and suddenly, ….., they were involved in a violent fight.

before you could say Jack Robinson

according to the rules; refers to the rules outlined by Mr. Hoyle in a book about bridge. This expression is usually used for something other than the card game

according to Hoyle

crazy; from the name of a character in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland

as mad as a March hare

someone who joins in something after it is underway

Johnny-come-lately

someone who is in the right place at the right time

Johnny-on-the-spot

always making mischief

full of Old Nick/full of devil

to live in luxury; no one knows who Riley is

lead the life of Riley

to uncover a lot of unsuspected problems

open Pandora’s box

to meet one’s final and insurmountable challenge

meet one’s Waterloo

someone full of excuses

Alibi Ike

a girl or woman from the Bahamas normally with a big ass

Bahama-mama

a woman who is considered very attractive but possibly superficial or overly concerned with her appearance, similar to the famous Barbie toy

Barbie doll

a sudden craving for a McDonald's Big Mac burger, often used humorously to describe an intense hunger for fast food

Big Mac attack

an average, ordinary citizen, representing the typical person in society

Joe Citizen

a stereotype of a typical male college student, often referring to someone who fully embraces college life, academics, and social activities

Joe College

someone who want to watch a good game and drink some bear

Joe Six-pack

an enthusiastic way of saying "yes, absolutely!" or "you bet!" with emphasis

Yes siree Bob!

a phrase meaning things are fair, equal, or balanced between two people or parties

even-Steven

Oh my God!

Good golly, Miss Molly!

For God’s sake

For Pete’s sake

an exclamation of frustration or surprise, similar to "For heaven’s sake!" or "For goodness’ sake!”

For the love of Mike

something genuine, authentic

the real McCoy

something ridiculous, trivial, insignificant

mickey mouse

US of A, States, Mainland

“He’s from the States. You want to talk to him?”

American

Yank, Yankee, Americano

“Who’s that Yank?”

American

Kraut, krauthead, Fritz, Heinie, Jerry

“Those krauts make some pretty good beer”

(derogatory) German

Brit, Britisher, beefeater, Tommy

“The Brits are unhappy over the weakness of the pound sterling”

British

Chink, Chinaman, chino, slant-eyes

“Chiks say their language is easy”

(derogatory) Chinese

Kike, Yid, Jew boy, rabbi, Ike, Hymie, Abe, Sammy, Goldberg

“Don’t you know what that Hymie wanted?”

(derogatory) Israeli

Wop, ginzo, spaghetti, guinea

“What can you expect from a wop like that?”

(derogatory) Italian

Rusky, red, Ivan, comrade

“See if Ivan wants some chocolate”

(derogatory) Russian

Jap, Nip, gook

“The Japs are all over”

(derogatory) Japanese

Yugo, hunky, slav

“What did the Yugo want”

(derogatory) Balkan

Mex, Latino, Chicano, Gringo, Amigo, bean eater, wetback, dino, spic

“I didn’t know they let spics in here”

(derogatory/neutral) Latinx/Mexican

Polack, Pollack, Pollock

“Well, that’s the way the pollacks are”

(derogatory) Polish

Dink, gook, slope, zip, Charlie

“These gooks sure can cook”

(derogatory) Asian

Aussie

“Aussie guys can be so much fun”

(neutral) Australian

Kiwi

“There’s no way non kiwi folk will understand it”

(neutral/derogatory) New Zealander

Frog, frog-eater, Frenchy

“The problem with the frogs is that their language is so strange”

(derogatory) French

Mick/Paddy

“My cousin is one crazy mick”

(derogatory/neutral) Irish

Redskin, squaw

“Where are the redskins going”

(derogatory) Native American