so-and-so

Hi,

meaning Ambivalent

somebody don't know , what his name

when use this word ? Oh, look over there. It's so-and-so. I forget his name, can you remember it?

i want other mean for this ... My boss is a real so-and-so. (Meaning 'he's a very d

thanks Clive

I find this expression is a source of confusiion for my Italian students. I say "How are you?" and they reply "so-and-so", thinking it means not too good, not too bad. It translates their expression così così. It seems that this is used also in English, more AmE, i.e. "so so" without "and". Or am I inventing things?

Yes the 'ambivalent' not good/not bad phrase is 'so-so', without the and in the middle.

Hi,

My class loves to say 'so-so'. I guess because it is 'easy English'. I try to discourage them from constantly saying it, but every so often a new wave of 'so-so' sweeps through the room.

Best wishes, Clive

From a dictionary:
"so-and-so" (noun pl. -sos)
- a person or thing whose name the speaker does not need to specify or does not know or remember.
- (informal) a person who is disliked or is considered to have a particular characteristic, typically an unfavorable one, e.g. "nosy old so-and-so!"

Your question has made me realize that I intuitively avoid "so-and-so" because of

You may want to avoid it. Look at 2 here:

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so-and-so

Marius HancuYou may want to avoid it. Look at 2 here:

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so-and-so

2 : b_a_s_t_a_r_d <has often been called an unregenerate so-and-so by the opposition -- Bill Hatch> <should have given the poor so-and-so another chance -- Jean Stafford> <you old so-and-so ... how are you, anyway -- J.G.Cozz

Only 7a (see the definition in my posting) is insulting; 7b & c aren't.

But, just because of 7a, I'd be very careful when using "so-and-so."

thank you