Definition

Noun: 1. A placeholder name for an unspecified person: Used when the speaker does not know, does not remember, or does not wish to state a specific person's name. It functions like "Mr. X" or "someone." 2. A placeholder for an unspecified thing or action: Used to refer to something vague or to avoid giving specific details. 3. (Informal, often euphemistic) A contemptible or annoying person: A mild insult, often used to express annoyance without using a stronger, more offensive term. The meaning is similar to "jerk" or "idiot."

Usage Examples

• As a placeholder for a person:
  • I heard from so-and-so that the meeting is canceled. (I heard from someone/a certain person that the meeting is canceled.)
  • Tell Mr. So-and-so that I'll call him back. (Tell that man, whose name I'm not mentioning, that I'll call him back.)
• As a placeholder for a thing or action:
  • The instructions say to connect wire A to terminal so-and-so. (The instructions say to connect wire A to a specific, but unnamed, terminal.)
  • She told me to go there and do so-and-so. (She told me to go there and perform a specific, but unstated, action.)
• As a mild insult:
  • That so-and-so took my parking spot! (That annoying person took my parking spot!)
  • I can't believe what that little so-and-so did. (I can't believe what that contemptible person did.)

Advanced Usage

• "Mr./Ms. So-and-so": A common formal placeholder for an unknown or generic person's name, often used in examples or hypothetical situations.
  • If Mr. So-and-so from accounting calls, please take a message.
• "Such-and-such": A closely related term used specifically for placeholder things, places, or amounts, not people.
  • He said he worked at such-and-such a company. (He said he worked at a specific company.)

Variants and Related Words

• What's-his-name / What's-her-name: Informal placeholders used when the speaker cannot recall a person's name at that moment.
  • I saw what's-his-name from the marketing department earlier.
• Such-and-such (adj/n): As above, used for unspecified things, details, or amounts.
  • The contract states that payment must be made within such-and-such days.

Synonyms

• Placeholder for a person: somebody, someone, what's-his-name, Mr. X, an individual.
• Placeholder for a thing: such-and-such, something, whatever, a certain thing.
• As a mild insult: jerk, idiot, rascal, scoundrel, git (UK informal), rotter (UK informal).

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• So-and-so and so-and-so: Used to refer to various unspecified people or things.
  • The party was full of so-and-so and so-and-so from the industry. (The party was full of various unimportant or unnamed people from the industry.)
• You (little) so-and-so!: An exclamation of annoyed or affectionate scolding, often directed at a child or pet.
  • You ate the last cookie, you little so-and-so!

Noun

1. a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
   • only a rotter would do that
   • kill the rat
   • throw the bum out
   • you cowardly little pukes!
   • the British call a contemptible person a `git'