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What's the "Joe Shmoe" of different cultures? Or the "John/Jane Smith"? (lemm.ee)

submitted 11 months ago by ech@lemm.ee to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

108 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Explanations/etymology also appreciated!

For Joe Shmoe, it means a very average or below average person. It's a derivation of the practice of using "shm-" to dismiss something (eg "Practice shmactice. We're already perfect").

And "John Smith" is meant to be the most average name or person imaginable, so they have the "most common" (citation needed) first and last name as well.

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[-] wildeaboutoskar@beehaw.org 23 points 11 months ago

We have the phrase 'every Tom, Dick and Harry' which is like that (UK)

If we're talking about a generic person it's usually Mr/s Smith or Mr/s Jones (near Wales)

[-] livus@kbin.social 4 points 11 months ago

Do you have "every man and his dog"? (Same meaning as every Tom Dick or Harry")

[-] wildeaboutoskar@beehaw.org 2 points 11 months ago

Yeah we do :)

[-] bpalmerau@aussie.zone 2 points 11 months ago

In Australia we have Joe Bloggs, but it sounds English. Do you have him in England?

[-] essellburns@beehaw.org 2 points 11 months ago

Yup, he gets everywhere

this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2023

191 points (99.0% liked)

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