Johnny-come-lately en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(also, attributive, idiomatic) A newcomer; a novice; an upstart.
The government should give the agency its independence back so that it can get on with the task of protecting consumers in relation to food without political interference from johnny-come-lately ministers.
2014 August 21, Mike Pender, “Food safety too crucial to be left to johnny-come-lately ministers”, in The Guardian:In a field increasingly populated with Johnnies-come-lately, Gittings is a Johnny-come-early: one only has to read this book to feel the depth and span of his knowledge.
2005 September 10, Martin Jacques, “Great leaps and bounds”, in The Guardian:Morris now shared financial decisions with a woman, a female Johnny-come-lately. Imagine the eventuality of Morris's share of their fortune ever falling into such Johnny-come-lately hands. God forbid!
1963 [1961], Fannie Hurst, God Must Be Sad, New York: Pocket Books, page 79:All these Johnny-come-latelies typically come out as irreverent, vulgar or immature and childlike.
2018, E. Khayyat, Istanbul 1940 and Global Modernity, Lexington Books, →ISBN, page 213:She might take offense if some Johnny-come-lately thinks he can do a better job.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| johnny-come-lately | alternative, rare | lexicographic | |
| Jonny-come-lately | alternative, rare | lexicographic | |
| Johnny-come-latelies | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| Johnnies-come-lately | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
recruit · newb · newcomer · newcomer · nub · freshman · entrant · alphabetarian · noob · tenderfoot · initiate · newbro · newling · FOB · bun · greenhorn · outcomeling · younker · colt · beginner · tyro · incomer · fresh meat · newling · puny · blow-in · neophyte · new chum · inceptor · newfriend · offcomer · newbie · comeling · pup · trainee · fresh meat · tyrone · learner · greener · freshie · Johnny-come-lately · first-timer · homo novus · Johnny-come-lately · n00b · new chum · greener · stranger · greenie · come-here · greenhorn · probationist · novice · nubcake · apprentice · Johnny Raw · newbie · novice · nozzer · FNG · abecedarian · rookie · amateur · probie · probationer · novitiate · stranger · newcomer · fledgling · newfag
Translations (13)
ru новенький (newcomer) · fi märkäkorva (newcomer) · pt novato (newcomer) · es novata (newcomer) · fi keltanokka (newcomer) · ru новенькая (newcomer) · sv uppkomling (newcomer) · pt recém-chegado (newcomer) · es novato (newcomer) · pl nowicjusz (newcomer) · ru новичок (newcomer) · pl nowicjuszka (newcomer) · pl żółtodziób (newcomer)