john (redirected from John, Barry)

a Dear John letter (humorous)

a letter that you send to a man telling him you want to end a romantic relationship with him. I've always thought Dear John letters a cowardly way of ending a relationship.

See also: dear, letter

John Bull (old-fashioned)

a character who represents a typical English man or the English people. In the cartoon, John Bull appears as a short, stocky figure wearing a waistcoat with the British flag on.

See also: bull

John Doe (American)

a man or boy whose real name must be kept secret or is not known, especially in a court of law. The patient was referred to in court documents as John Doe.

See also: doe

your John Hancock (American, humorous)

your signature. If you put your John Hancock on the last page we'll be finished with the formalities.

John Q Public (American, humorous)

the public. You have to ask yourself what John Q Public will think when he hears about the government overspending.

See also: public