So and so

Meaning

The idiom "so and so" is used to refer to a person or thing without using their name directly. It is typically used as a placeholder until the specific name is known or in cases where it is deemed inappropriate or disrespectful to use their name. For example, if someone asks you about a colleague or classmate and you don't know their name, you might say something like "Oh, I believe you mean so-and-so."

Usage

• "I don't remember what his name was, but he was the guy who always had a smile on his face."
• "Can you tell me more about that person without using their name?"
• "I heard that so-and-so is leaving the company soon."
• "I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about so-and-so that I just don't like."
• "I can't remember what his name was, but he was the guy who always had a smile on his face."

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "so and so" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. It may have originally been used to refer to someone whose name was unknown or who was being referred to indirectly for reasons of politeness or discretion. Over time, the usage of the idiom has expanded to include situations where using the person's name directly is inappropriate or disrespectful.

Synonyms in English

• "That person"
• "The individual"
• "The one you're referring to"
• "The person in question"
• "The mysterious figure"

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "el cual" (masculine singular), "las cuales" (feminine plural)
• French: "qui" (singular), "quelles" (plural)
• German: "der/die?" (singular), "die?" (plural)
• Italian: "che?" (singular), "che?" (plural)
• Russian: "кто/когда?" (singular), "кто/когда?" (plural)

Similar Idioms

• all roads lead to Rome

• son of a gun

• sixth sense