johnny

slang A condom. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. Remember, mate: only a fool doesn't wear a johnny on a one-night stand. In an effort to promote safe sexual practices, the student union began handing out rubber johnnies to everyone passing by.

Johnny Law

slang One or more police officers or the police in general. (Though the term is gendered, it does not necessarily refer to a male officer.) The guy was trying to break into the store in broad daylight, and he was completely unfazed when Johnny Law rolled up to arrest him. The company's CEO was taken away by Johnny Law on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

Johnny One-Note

Someone who repeatedly expresses or maintains a strong opinion on a single or a few particular subjects. Primarily heard in US, Canada. Every time I get together with Janet, she gets into some rant about how much she hates the government. She's become such a Johnny One-Note lately!

Johnny-be-good

dated slang One or more police officers or the police in general. (Though the term is gendered, it does not necessarily refer to a male officer.) The guy was trying to break into the store in broad daylight, and he was completely unfazed when Johnny-be-good rolled up to arrest him. The company's CEO was taken away by Johnny-be-good on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

Johnny-come-lately

A newcomer or late arrival to a group or activity. The rest of the staff wasn't too fond of Greg, a Johnny-come-lately who received praise from the manager after just one week on the job. Hurry up, Johnny-come-lately, we've already started today's drills!

Johnny-on-the-spot

One who is available and ready for action. Thankfully, Pat was Johnny-on-the-spot with buckets when the roof started leaking.

rubber johnny

slang A condom. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. Remember, mate: only a fool doesn't wear a rubber johnny on a one-night stand. In an effort to promote safe sexual practices, the student union began handing out rubber johnnies to everyone passing by.

stage-door Johnny

A man who spends a lot of time at a theater so as to seek the romantic attention, favor, or company of an actress. Ms. Gabler is such a stunning beauty that she always has some stage-door Johnny or another waiting for her after the curtain falls each night.

Johnny-come-lately

A newcomer, as in She may be a Johnny-come-lately on the board, but she's doing a fine job with publicity. [1830s]

Johnny-on-the-spot

A person who is available when needed, as in He always is there at the right time, a real Johnny-on-the-spot. [Late 1800s]

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.

Johnny-come-lately

OLD-FASHIONED

You call someone a Johnny-come-lately if they get involved in an activity or organization when it has been happening or has existed for a long time and therefore have little knowledge or experience of it. Having arrived on the scene relatively recently, Sylva is regarded by many other managers as a Johnny-come-lately. Note: Johnny-come-lately can also be used before a noun. We advise members to ensure that they are dealing with a reliable and long-established company — not some Johnny-come-lately firm that's just set up round the corner. Note: This name used to be given to new or inexperienced sailors in the American navy.

John(ny) Law

n. a law officer. John Law showed up with a piece of paper that says you are in trouble.

Johnny-be-good

n. a police officer. Here comes Johnny-be-good, so be good.

Johnny-come-lately

A late arrival; a newcomer. This term originated in the early nineteenth-century British navy as Johnny Newcomer, meaning a seaman new to a ship. In the United States it was changed to Johnny-come-lately, first appearing in print in Charles F. Briggs’s novel, The Adventures of Harry Franco (1839).

Johnny-on-the-spot

A person who is present at a crucial time. This term comes from nineteenth-century America. An early appearance in print is in George Ade’s Artie (1896): “I could see that a Johnny-on-the-spot . . . was trying to keep cases on her.”

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