20 Archetypes for People Based on Names

20 Archetypes for People Based on Names 20 Archetypes for People Based on Names 20 Archetypes for People Based on Names By Mark Nichol Various expressions have arisen, sometimes from folkloric or historical origins, to describe types of people by assigning them with personal names. Here are twenty such appellations and their definitions and (sometimes only probable) origins. 1. Average Joe: the average man from a demographic viewpoint; from the ubiquity of the name Joe 2. Chatty Cathy: an annoyingly verbose woman; coined through alliteration and rhyme 3. Debbie Downer: a naysayer or pessimist; coined by joining an alliterative common name with a descriptive label 4. Doubting Thomas: a skeptic; inspired by the name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who refused to believe in Jesus’s resurrection until he saw him 5. Dumb Dora: a dimwitted or foolish woman, from early-twentieth-century slang; coined by joining an alliterative common name with a descriptive label 6. Gloomy Gus: (see â€Å"Debbie Downer†); based on a cartoon character named by joining an alliterative common name with a descriptive label 7. Good-Time Charlie: a hedonist; probably based on a reference in a Damon Runyon story about a speakeasy by that name 8. Handy Andy: a person with useful skills; inspired by rhyming a common name with a descriptive label 9. Jack-the-lad: an arrogant, carefree young man; probably inspired by the name of a thief who became a folk hero because of multiple escapes from prison 10. Joe Blow: (see â€Å"Average Joe†) 11. Joe Cool: someone who presents a fashionable or unflappable persona; probably originated with the name of an alter ego of the character Snoopy in the Peanuts comic strip 12. Joe Six-Pack (or â€Å"Joe Sixpack†): (see â€Å"Average Joe,† imagined as a working-class man who enjoys drinking beer, thus the reference to a six-pack) 13. Mary Sue: any main character in a story who is unrealistically capable and flawless; inspired by the name’s all-American, wholesome, winsome associations 14. Merry Andrew: a clownish person; based on an archetypal clown act 15. Nervous Nellie: a timid, easily upset person of either gender; originally, a reference to a high-strung racehorse, influenced by Old Nell, a name associated with nags, or older horses 16. Peeping Tom: a voyeur; based on an apocryphal story of an onlooker (identified with a common name) during the based-in-fact tale of Lady Godiva 17. plain Jane: a girl or woman of average appearance, or any unprepossessing object; inspired by rhyming a common name with a descriptive label 18. Simple Simon: a gullible, unintelligent person; derived from a folk character 19. Smart Aleck (or â€Å"smart alec†): a know-it-all; apparently inspired by a nineteenth-century con man the police called â€Å"Smart Alec† 20. Typhoid Mary: a person who spreads disease or another undesirable thing; named after Mary Mallon, an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartHow to Pronounce Mobile10 Tips for Clean, Clear Writing

Top 10 Facts About the Yucatan Peninsula

Top 10 Facts About the Yucatan Peninsula The Yucatan Peninsula is an area in southeastern Mexico that separates the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The peninsula itself is home to the Mexican nations of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. It also covers the northern parts of Belize and Guatemala. The Yucatan is known for its tropical rainforests and jungles, as well as its being the home of the ancient Maya people. Top 10 Geographic Facts The Yucatan Peninsula itself belongs to the Yucatan Platform - a large chunk of land that is partially submerged. The Yucatan Peninsula is the portion that is above the water.It is believed that the mass extinction of the dinosaurs was caused by an asteroid impact in the Caribbean. Scientists have discovered the large Chicxulub Crater just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and that, along with impact shocks shown on the Yucatans rocks, is likely to be evidence showing where the asteroid hit.The Yucatan Peninsula is a significant area for ancient Mayan culture as there are many different Mayan archaeological sites in the region. The most famous of these include Chichen Itza and Uxmal.Todays Yucatan Peninsula is still home to native Maya people as well as people of Mayan descent. Mayan languages are also still spoken in the area today.The Yucatan Peninsula is a karst landscape dominated by limestone bedrock. As a result, there is very little surface water (and the water that is pr esent is not usually suitable for drinking water) because drainage in these types of landscapes is underground. The Yucatan is thus covered with caves and sinkholes called Cenotes that were used by the Maya to access the groundwater. The climate of the Yucatan Peninsula is tropical and consists of wet and dry seasons. Winters are mild and summers can be very hot.The Yucatan Peninsula is located within the Atlantic Hurricane Belt which means it is vulnerable to hurricanes from June through November. The number of hurricanes that hit the peninsula vary but they are always a threat. In 2005, two category five hurricanes, Emily and Wilma, hit the peninsula and caused extreme damage.Historically, the Yucatans economy has been dependent on cattle ranching and logging. Since the 1970s though, the areas economy has focused on tourism. The two most popular cities are Cancun and Tulum, both of which attract millions of tourists yearly.The Yucatan Peninsula is home to many tropical rainforests and jungles and the area between Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest in Central America.The name Yucatan also includes the Yucatan state of Mexico that is located on the peninsula. It is a large state with an area of 14,827 square miles (38,402 sq km) and a 2005 population of 1,818,948 people. The capital of Yucatan is Merida. Sources Wikipedia. (20 June 2010). Yucatan - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.Wikipedia (17 June 2010). Yucatan Peninsula - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.