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

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah we do :)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yup, he gets everywhere