• Source: Joe Shmoe

Joe Shmoe (also spelled Joe Schmoe and Joe Schmo), meaning "Joe Anybody", or no one in particular, is a commonly used fictional name in American English. Adding a "Shm" to the beginning of a word is meant to diminish, negate, or dismiss an argument (for instance, "Rain, shmain, we've got a game to play"). It can also indicate that the speaker is being ironic or sarcastic. This process was adapted in English from the use of the "schm" prefix in Yiddish to dismiss something; as in, "sale, schmale" (thus denying that the sale is worthwhile). While "schmo" ("schmoo", "schmoe") is thought by some linguists to be a clipping of Yiddish שמוק "schmuck", that derivation is disputed.




See also


Average Joe
Joe Bloggs
John Doe
John Q. Public
Man on the street
Placeholder name
Tom, Dick and Harry
Zé Povinho




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Joe Shmoe
• John Q. Public
• Joe (given name)
• Average Joe
• Tom, Dick and Harry
• Schmuck (pejorative)
• John Doe
• Shm-reduplication
• List of terms referring to an average person
• Internal rhyme