so-and-so

IPA/ˈsəʊ ən səʊ/
IPA/ˈsəʊ ən səʊ/

so-and-so — noun

1. a placeholder word for a person or thing whose exact name is forgotten, unimport

1.nounC1
Definition

a placeholder word for a person or thing whose exact name is forgotten, unimportant, or deliberately left unsaid

Example

Diya said so-and-so from accounting would call again after lunch.

so-and-so + from [department] for an unnamed person

Liam left the key with so-and-so at the front desk.

leave something with so-and-so

Common collocations
  • so-and-so from accounting
  • so-and-so's name
  • ask so-and-so
  • blame so-and-so
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

so-and-so + from/in/at ...

so-and-so's + noun

Usage Note

Used when the real name is unknown, forgotten, or not worth mentioning. It can stand for either a person or a thing and often sounds casual or slightly impatient.

Common Mistakes

Priya called, but I forgot that Priya called.
Priya called, but I forgot who called.
Do not replace a name with 'so-and-so' when you are already giving the exact name.
I bought a so-and-so yesterday.
I bought a thingamajig yesterday.' or 'I bought some gadget yesterday.
'So-and-so' usually replaces a specific name in context, not the ordinary name of an object.

2. a mild insulting label for somebody causing trouble or acting badly, used instea

2.nounC1
Definition

a mild insulting label for somebody causing trouble or acting badly, used instead of a stronger swear word

Example

That so-and-so parked across both spaces and walked away.

that so-and-so for an annoyed complaint

Some so-and-so stole Mira's lunch from the office fridge.

some so-and-so for an unidentified offender

Common collocations
  • that so-and-so
  • some so-and-so
  • rude so-and-so
  • little so-and-so
Synonyms
  • jerk

    more direct and stronger than 'so-and-so'

  • idiot

    focuses more on stupidity than on general annoyance

  • pain

    informal and milder, especially in 'a pain'

Grammar Patterns

that/some + so-and-so

adjective + so-and-so

Usage Note

Usually said when the speaker is irritated and wants to avoid a harsher insult. It is normally about a person, not about a thing or an event.

Common Mistakes

The so-and-so printer jammed again.
That printer jammed again.
This insulting sense is used for a person, not for a machine or object.
She is a so-and-so because she forgot my name.
That so-and-so forgot my name.
The phrase is most natural as an annoyed label in the sentence, not after the article 'a' in a neutral description.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'So-and-so' is a flexible placeholder that can stand for either a person or a thing whose name is forgotten, unnecessary, or intentionally not said. 'What's-his-name' is narrower, because it is only for a male person, and speakers often use it when a name is on the tip of the tongue. 'Whatchamacallit' is mainly for objects and usually sounds more playful or comic. The insulting sense of 'so-and-so' is separate again: it does not simply hide a name, but lets the speaker complain about a person without using a stronger swear word.

so-and-so ↗what's-his-namewhatchamacallit ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • that so-and-so
  • some so-and-so
  • so-and-so from accounting
  • so-and-so's name

Etymology

English

The expression developed in English as a repeated placeholder built from the common word 'so' linked by 'and'. Speakers first used it in place of words they did not want to specify, and later it settled into a noun-like form for an unnamed person or thing. From that neutral use, it also developed an irritated use for a person the speaker dislikes.

First known use

13th century

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adverb