Johnny-come-lately
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Johnny-come-lately
First recorded in 1825–35; from the proper name Johnny
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Given he’s been a megawatt star for more than half a century, it’s odd to think that Rod Stewart has opinions on anything as Johnny-come-lately as the Department of Government Efficiency.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2025
“King salmon is a Johnny-come-lately that came into this race only after king crab left—died.”
From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2022
Despite the Uber gig, Tang, 36, is no Johnny-come-lately.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 8, 2019
In activewear — among the few strong-performing categories in the anemic apparel sector — J. Crew would appear to be a Johnny-come-lately.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2016
When I took Johnny-come-lately to gaol in Melbourne for stealing him, he brought me back in less time than any horse ever did the distance before or since.
From The Book of the Bush Containing Many Truthful Sketches Of The Early Colonial Life Of Squatters, Whalers, Convicts, Diggers, And Others Who Left Their Native Land And Never Returned by Macfarlane, J.
Now the BBC and ITV look less like the big beasts and more like the Johnny-come-latelies.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2019
Maybe all you Johnny-come-latelies can just make a donation and leave your lips bare.
From Time ● Nov. 5, 2014
"I feel safe using some built by people who know what they are doing , but others are Johnny-come-latelies who use a lot of buzzwords but may not be all that useful."
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 3, 2013
Seemed like Carson assumed that Mrs. Hughes isn't one of these foxtrotting, rouge-applying Johnny-come-latelies, and that she still appreciates the old attitudes.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2013
Instead, he was relegated to the sidelines as a marginal player while Johnny-come-latelies like Hamilton and Madison occupied center stage.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
