Is the phrase 'Tom, Dick and Harry' always negative?

Mostly yes, it carries a dismissive or pejorative tone when referring to people as ordinary or unimportant.

Can women be referred to as 'Tom, Dick and Harry'?

Traditionally no, as it uses male names. More inclusive alternatives include 'every man and his dog' or rephrasing.

What's the origin of this phrase?

Dates to 17th century England, using common male names to represent ordinary people.

Is 'Tom, Dick and Jerry' correct?

No, that's a common mistake due to the cartoon. The correct phrase is 'Tom, Dick and Harry'.

Is “tom, dick and jerry” formal?

Tom, dick and jerry is usually informal to semi-formal in register.

How do you pronounce “tom, dick and jerry”?

Tom, dick and jerry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒm ˌdɪk ən ˈhæri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɑːm ˌdɪk ən ˈheri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

tom, dick and jerry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˌtɒm ˌdɪk ən ˈhæri/US/ˌtɑːm ˌdɪk ən ˈheri/

Informal to semi-formal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “tom, dick and jerry” mean?

Ordinary people in general.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Ordinary people in general; any random or common individuals

Used to refer collectively to people in a dismissive or generalizing way, often implying that they are not particularly special or noteworthy

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Used in both varieties with identical meaning. Slight difference in typical phrasing: 'every Tom, Dick and Harry' is more common in British English, while 'any Tom, Dick or Harry' appears in both.

Connotations

In both varieties, carries a mildly pejorative tone when referring to people dismissively. In American English, occasionally confused with the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry.

Frequency

Moderately common in both varieties; slightly more frequent in British English in written texts

Grammar

How to Use “tom, dick and jerry” in a Sentence

Every Tom, Dick and Harry + verb phraseNot for any Tom, Dick or HarryYou can't just let + noun phrase + every Tom, Dick and Harry

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

everyanyno

medium

inviteallowlet

weak

randomordinaryunknown

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

We can't share confidential data with every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Academic

The study wasn't designed to be accessible to any Tom, Dick or Harry.

Everyday

I don't want just any Tom, Dick or Harry coming to my party.

Technical

The software shouldn't be operable by every Tom, Dick and Harry without proper training.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “tom, dick and jerry”

Strong

any random personjust anybodythe man on the street

Neutral

everyoneanyonethe general public

Weak

common peopleaverage personordinary folk

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “tom, dick and jerry”

select fewchosen oneseliteexclusive group

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “tom, dick and jerry”

Using 'Jerry' instead of 'Harry' (confusion with cartoon)
Omitting 'and' between names
Using incorrect order of names

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Mostly yes, it carries a dismissive or pejorative tone when referring to people as ordinary or unimportant.
: Traditionally no, as it uses male names. More inclusive alternatives include 'every man and his dog' or rephrasing.
: Dates to 17th century England, using common male names to represent ordinary people.
: No, that's a common mistake due to the cartoon. The correct phrase is 'Tom, Dick and Harry'.
: Ordinary people in general.
: Tom, dick and jerry is usually informal to semi-formal in register.
: Tom, dick and jerry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒm ˌdɪk ən ˈhæri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɑːm ˌdɪk ən ˈheri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Every Tom, Dick and Harry”
“Any Tom, Dick or Harry”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of three common male names: Tom, Dick, Harry — they represent 'every common person'.

Conceptual Metaphor

COMMON PEOPLE ARE COMMON NAMES

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

We can't share company secrets with every .

Multiple Choice

What does 'Tom, Dick and Harry' typically express?