a household name/word

household name

A person, product, company, brand, etc., that has become widely popular or commonly known. Known for its reliable and affordable household appliances, the company has been a household name for over three decades. I knew that winning at the Olympics would change my life, but I didn't realize that I would become a household name! After one of his videos went viral on the Internet, Jonathan was a household name for a little while

See also: household, name

household word

A particular term or concept that has become widely popular or commonly known. Due to the widespread adoption of mobile technology, "smartphone" has become a household word. Our country was so badly hit by the economic recession that "austerity measures" were suddenly household words. Now that "coronavirus" is a household word, will the world ever be the same again?

See also: household, word

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*a household name

 and *a household word

Fig. well known by everyone; commonly and widely known. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; make something ~.) I want my invention to become a household word. Some kid named Perry Hodder has become a household name!

See also: household, name

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

a household name

COMMON If a someone or something is a household name, they are famous or known by many people. In one week, I will have become a household name to every man on Earth. They aim to make Tesco a household name in their country.

See also: household, name

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a ˌhousehold ˈname/ˈword

a name/word that is extremely well known: The business she founded made her into a household name. ♢ Microsoft is a household name.

See also: household, name, word

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

household word

A very familiar saying, person, or thing. Although this term was perhaps originated by Shakespeare, it did not come into common use until the nineteenth century. Occasionally it is used derisively.

See also: household, word

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer