You name it!

The English language has a cast of characters, and you are using them

Image: Austin Kirk

Ever blurted out, "for Pete’s sake!" without knowing who Pete is? You’re not alone. Our language is full of expressions that borrow names to make a point, crack a joke, or politely curse. From daydreamers and show-offs to mystery women and psychological slip-ups, these idioms appear in everyday conversation, often without much thought. But once you notice them, they’re impossible to ignore. So, let’s meet the characters hiding in plain sight!

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Poor Pete really can’t catch a break, huh? We call on him whenever we’re frustrated, flustered, or just fed up—usually without knowing who he is.

Most likely, "for Pete’s sake" popped up as a polite alternative to "for God’s sake," allowing people to vent without taking God’s name in vain. It has been in use since at least the early 1900s and still serves its purpose when your keys go missing or your computer freezes mid-email.

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You’re halfway through folding laundry when you suddenly imagine accepting a Nobel Prize. Sound familiar? That’s a Walter Mitty moment.

The phrase comes from James Thurber’s 1939 short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, about a mild-mannered man who escapes his ordinary life through vivid daydreams. Today, it describes someone with big fantasies tucked inside a very ordinary life.

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If someone’s taking the Mickey out of you, there’s no need to get defensive—it just means they’re teasing. It’s British slang for good-natured ribbing, like when a friend jokes about your loud Hawaiian shirt. The phrase likely comes from Cockney rhyming slang: "Mickey Bliss." Confusing? Maybe. But the meaning is simple—it’s all in good fun.

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Ah, the Midas touch—something we all wish we had when investing or buying lottery tickets. King Midas, from Greek mythology, could turn anything he touched into gold. In modern talk, someone with the Midas touch just can’t seem to fail—business deals, side hustles, even daily tasks. Everything they touch flourishes. Of course, Midas’s gift was also a curse: imagine turning your dinner into solid gold. No, thank you!

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Ever known someone who’s lovely at brunch and a storm cloud by dinner? You might have a Jekyll and Hyde person nearby. Naturally, the phrase comes from Robert Louis Stevenson’s story about a man with two sides: one refined, one monstrous. It’s a catchy way to describe mood swings or wildly different personalities in a single person. Are you one of these?

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Larry must’ve had a good thing going, because being "as happy as Larry" means you’re in great spirits. No one knows exactly who Larry was, but many believe it refers to 19th-century Aussie boxer Larry Foley, who was wildly successful—and rich. The phrase took off in Australia and New Zealand, and it’s stuck around ever since. Whoever he was, we owe him a happy one.

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Ever been offered something with zero actual options? That’s a Hobson’s choice. It comes from Thomas Hobson, a 17th-century English stable owner who gave customers only one horse: take it or leave it. The term has come to mean any situation where you aren’t really given a choice—there’s only one road to take.

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Jack the Lad is the guy who saunters into a room like it’s his stage. He’s brash, bold, and often charming in that roguish, slightly over-the-top way. The term comes from British slang and tends to describe a young man full of swagger and mischief. Not everyone loves a Jack the Lad, but you always notice when he walks in—probably because he makes sure of it.

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When a woman’s name is unknown or needs to be kept private—like in a legal case—she’s often called Jane Doe. It’s the female counterpart to John Doe, a term used for centuries in legal documents. Though these names may sound generic, they serve an important purpose: providing privacy, maintaining anonymity, or identifying someone when no real name is available.

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Saying "I love you" instead of "I like you"? Calling your boss "Mom"? That’s a Freudian slip. Named after Sigmund Freud, the idea is that these verbal mishaps can reveal hidden thoughts or desires. We’ve all experienced moments like this, right? They often happen at the worst possible times—job interviews, awkward family dinners, you name it. Freud would probably raise an eyebrow and say, "Tell me more."

Stories of names

Who was Harvard named after? Origin of university names

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Who were the men named Harvard, Rice, or Duke? Only true visionaries would donate half of their estate to sculpting the minds of the future. From the heartfelt tribute behind Stanford’s name to the post-revolutionary rebranding of Columbia, these stories are monuments to history and culture. Let’s take a stroll through academia’s memory lane and uncover the origins of these storied university names!

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Ah, Harvard! The Ivy League giant was once a small college in the Massachusetts Bay Colony settlement called New Towne. But where did "Harvard" come from?

Enter John Harvard, a clergyman who, in 1638, decided to bequeath half his estate and his library (a whopping 400 books!) to the fledgling college. Grateful for this generous gift, they promptly named the institution after him.

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A gem of New Haven, Connecticut, Yale is another Ivy League powerhouse known for its prestigious law and drama schools.

It owes its name to Elihu Yale, a wealthy merchant who, in 1718, donated a modest shipment of goods (including portraits, books, and textiles) to a struggling collegiate school. Those goods were auctioned off, raising a much-needed £562 –a small fortune at the time.

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This New Jersey Ivy Leaguer, famous for its stunning Gothic architecture and strong emphasis on undergraduate education, has a bit of a nomadic past. Originally called the College of New Jersey, the educational institution moved around and changed names over the decades.

Eventually, it settled in Princeton, and became popularly referred to as "Prince-town’s College." However, the name wasn’t formally adopted until 1896.

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In the urban jungle of New York City, Columbia University boasts a vibrant campus life and a reputation for academic excellence. But did you know it was once known by a less-than-patriotic name?

It was founded in 1754 as King's College, which became a bit awkward after the revolution. It was then renamed Columbia College, "Columbia" being a poetic name for the new, independent country that was America at the time.

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Dartmouth is renowned for its beautiful rural setting, nestled in the picturesque town of Hanover, New Hampshire. It was named after the Earl of Dartmouth, William Legge, a British nobleman who supported the college's founding –despite never actually setting foot in America!

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This Rhode Island Ivy, known for its open curriculum and emphasis on student choice, was founded with a mouthful of a name – the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

It was renamed in 1704 for Nicholas Brown, Jr., a prominent merchant whose family donated generously to the school.

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Perched atop a hill overlooking Ithaca, New York, Cornell is celebrated for its diverse academic programs and its stunning natural surroundings.

Founded by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, this university was unique for its commitment to practical education, allowing students the freedom to choose their own course of study. It was a revolutionary notion at the time, which would guide a curricular reform across the country.

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Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit and its close ties to the tech industry. But this California powerhouse has a touching origin story.

Leland Stanford, Jr., the founder's son, tragically died young from typhoid fever. His father Leland Sr., railroad magnate and former state governor, and his mother Jane, founded the university in his memory, ensuring his legacy lived on through the pursuit of knowledge.

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This North Carolina research giant, known for its strong medical and law schools, underwent a bit of a name change in its history.

Originally called Trinity College, it was renamed Duke University in 1924 after James Buchanan Duke, a tobacco and electric power industrialist who founded the American Tobacco Company. He established The Duke Endowment, to which he donated throughout his life and left half his estate after his death.

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Nestled in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt is a renowned research university with a vibrant campus life. It owes its name to "The Commodore," Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and railroad magnate, who provided the initial gift to establish the university.

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Texas businessman William Marsh Rice provided the initial funding for this Houston university, but did not live to see its opening. He was murdered by his valet as he slept, in a plot to forge the man’s will.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Rice University flourished through the years, becoming an institution known for its strong engineering and science programs.

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"USC" is a sprawling campus known for its film school and its Trojan spirit. It was founded by Robert Maclay Widney, a judge who envisioned a university that would serve the growing area. Back then it was only an expanding frontier town, which would evolve to become the city of Los Angeles.