johnny-come-lately
phrase (often derogatory)

- a person who becomes involved in an activity or organization after it has already started, and who is therefore less reliable or experienced than the people who have been involved since the beginning

- a person who starts a job or activity later than other people and sometimes uses the experience and knowledge of these people to obtain an advantage over them

- someone recently taking part in a trend or activity and acting like an expert or original despite being new to it

Collins Dictionary / The Cambridge Dictionary / Grammarist

Plurals: Johnny-come-latelies, Johnnies-come-lately

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The first recorded use of "Johnny-come-lately" in print dates back to around 1839. It likely emerged in colloquial American English to describe a person who arrives or participates later than others and is, therefore, considered less knowledgeable or established. The phrase captures a sense of skepticism or dismissiveness toward the newcomer's abilities or contributions.

Over time, "Johnny-come-lately" has been used in various contexts, from casual conversation to literature, to describe individuals who join trends, movements, or professions after they have already been established, often implying a lack of authenticity or expertise.

Today, "johnny-come-lately" is commonly used in various contexts, from politics (a new party or candidate) to business (a startup entering an established market) to social situations (someone joining a trend late).

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7 JOHNNY-FACTS

(1) The name "Johnny" is a diminutive form of the name "John" and is of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is gracious”.

(2) “Johnny Appleseed" is a popular American folklore figure known for planting apple trees across the country.

(3) A "Dear John letter” is a letter or message to a man, often from his wife or girlfriend, ending their relationship, particularly common during wartime.

(4) "Johnny" brands:        
        Johnnie Walker - one of the most well-known Scotch whisky brands in the world
        Johnny Was - a popular bohemian-style women's clothing and accessories brand known for its intricate embroidery and colourful designs
        Johnny Cupcakes - a clothing brand and bakery founded by Johnny Earle that sells t-shirts and other apparel featuring a cupcake logo and irreverent designs
        Johnny Rockets - a retro-themed diner restaurant chain founded in 1986 that is designed to look like a 1950s diner, complete with servers dressed in vintage uniforms

(5) "John Doe" is a placeholder name used to refer to an anonymous or unknown male, often in legal or medical contexts. The female equivalent is "Jane Doe." Its origins are unclear, but it dates back centuries.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

(6) Hurricane John or Typhoon John, was the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed worldwide. It was also the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record globally at the time, until it was surpassed by Cyclone Freddy in 2023.

(7) International equivalents of John/Johnny:  French = Jean, Spanish = Juan, German = Johann/Johannes, Italian = Giovanni, Dutch = Jan, Russian = Ivan, Polish = Jan, Irish = Seán, Swedish = Johan, Danish = Jens/Johannes, Norwegian = Jan, Johannes, Czech = Jan, Slovak = Ján, Croatian = Ivan, Serbian = Jovan, Greek = Γιάννης (Yiannis), Hungarian = János, Arabic = يوحنا (Yuhanna), Hebrew = יוחנן (Yohanan).

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SYNONYMS

apprentice, arriviste, arrival, aspirant, babe in the woods, cadet, come-ling, conscript, colt, cub, entrant, fledgling, fresh-face (-meat), fresh off the boat, freshie, freshman, greenie, greenhorn, hatchling, incomer, intern, johnny raw, JOHNNY-COME-LATELY, junior, latecomer, minnow, new arrival (blood, boy/girl, face, hand), new kid in town (on the block), newb, newbie, newcake, newcomer, new fish in the pond, newling, probationer, recruit, rookie, spring chicken, tenderfoot, trainee, tyro, underling, understudy, upstart, wannabe, wet behind the ears

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a sentence, say something like:

“He was a JOHNNY-COME-LATELY who was politely asked to leave before his probation period was over.“

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