Hancock

(one's) John Hancock

slang One's signature. John Hancock, an influential figure in the American Revolution, is known for his especially large and legible signature on the Declaration of Independence. As soon as you put your John Hancock on these papers, you'll be the proud owner of a brand new car! I would never have put my John Hancock on such an unfavorable contract—I think my signature was forged. We're going to need your John Hancock on this contract to make the deal official.

See also: Hancock, john

put (one's) John Hancock on (something)

To sign one's name on a document or other item. John Hancock, an influential figure in the American Revolution, is known for his especially large and legible signature on the Declaration of Independence. As soon as you put your John Hancock on these papers, you'll be the proud owner of a brand new car! I would never have put my John Hancock on such an unfavorable contract—I think my signature was forged.

See also: Hancock, john, on, put

sign (one's) John Hancock

To sign one's name. John Hancock, an influential figure in the American Revolution, is known for his especially large and legible signature on the Declaration of Independence. Primarily heard in US. As soon as you sign your John Hancock here, you'll be the proud owner of a brand new car! Make sure you look over the details of the contract carefully before you sign your John Hancock.

See also: Hancock, john, sign

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

one's John Henry

 and one's John Hancock

one's signature. Just put your John Henry on this line, and we'll bring your new car around.

See also: henry, john

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

John Hancock

Also, John Henry. One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line. This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for "Hancock." [Mid-1800s]

See also: Hancock, john

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

John Hancock

n. one’s signature. (Refers to the signature of John Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.) Put your John Hancock right here, if you don’t mind.

See also: Hancock, john

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

John Hancock

One’s signature. John Hancock was the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence and did so in an exceptionally large, clear hand. Indeed, he supposedly remarked, “I guess King George will be able to read that” (July 4, 1776). In the mid-nineteenth century his name was transferred to anyone’s signature.

See also: Hancock, john

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