Joe Public

Joe Public

English

Proper noun

Joe Public

1. (idiomatic) A hypothetical average or generic member of the public; the common man (or person, by extension).

   Quoting Joe Public proved a dangerous game in the 2008 US presidential elections after he was personified in Joe 'the' Plumber, an actual plumber without previous media exposure.

Synonyms

• Joe Average
• John Q. Public

Translations

a hypothetical average or generic member of the public

Dutch: Jan Modaal m, Jan met de pet m Finnish: Pihtiputaan mummo (fi) French: Tartempion (fr)

Italian: Pinco pallino m Swedish: medelsvensson (sv)

See also

• Joe Bloggs
• John Doe
• J. Random User
• man on the Clapham omnibus
• Tom, Dick or Harry