Fulano, Sicrano e Beltrano

English translation: Tom, Dick and Harry

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:Fulano, Sicrano e Beltrano
English translation:Tom, Dick and Harry
Entered by: Humberto Ribas

17:53 Jul 19, 2007
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama / common parlance
Portuguese term or phrase: Fulano, Sicrano e Beltrano
You are talking about 3 people whose names you don't know or can't be bothered to know: Fulano is the first, Sicrano is the second, and Beltrano is the third (always in that order). You could use: So-and-So, Such-and-Such, John Doe (= Fulano de Tal), Jean Doe (= Fulana de Tal), I know that bird (or bean) = conheço aquele Fulano, thingmabob, thingummy (thingamy, U.S.),bugger, etc. But all the above refer to just one character and there's a way of referring to the 3 of them and I can't remember. Any help?
Humberto Ribas
Brazil
Local time: 14:30
Tom, Dick and Harry
Explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Dick_And_Harry

Tom, Dick and Harry" is a placeholder phrase referring to several randomly-selected people, not necessarily three and not necessarily all men. "Every Tom, Dick and Harry" can refer to the general public.

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Note added at 58 mins (2007-07-19 18:51:19 GMT)
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Placeholder names in the Spanish language have a pejorative or derogatory feeling to them. Fulano/a, (from the Arabic fulán meaning whomever), (the female version Fulana should be used carefully as it also means "prostitute"). Mengano (from the Arabic man kán –quien sea-whomever). Perengano (from the combination of the very common last name of Perez and Mengano). Zutano (from the Castillian word citano from the Latin scitanus "known"). All placeholder words are also used frequently in diminutive form, Fulanito/a, Menganito/a, Perenganito/a or Zutanito/a.

Selected response from:

Lia Fail (X)
Spain
Local time: 18:30
Grading comment
Thank you very much indeed, Lia
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +13Tom, Dick and Harry
Lia Fail (X)
4 +2so and so, whoseewhatsis, whatsisname, whatsername
Amy Duncan (X)


  

Answers


57 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +13
Tom, Dick and Harry


Explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Dick_And_Harry

Tom, Dick and Harry" is a placeholder phrase referring to several randomly-selected people, not necessarily three and not necessarily all men. "Every Tom, Dick and Harry" can refer to the general public.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 58 mins (2007-07-19 18:51:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Placeholder names in the Spanish language have a pejorative or derogatory feeling to them. Fulano/a, (from the Arabic fulán meaning whomever), (the female version Fulana should be used carefully as it also means "prostitute"). Mengano (from the Arabic man kán –quien sea-whomever). Perengano (from the combination of the very common last name of Perez and Mengano). Zutano (from the Castillian word citano from the Latin scitanus "known"). All placeholder words are also used frequently in diminutive form, Fulanito/a, Menganito/a, Perenganito/a or Zutanito/a.



Lia Fail (X)
Spain
Local time: 18:30
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you very much indeed, Lia
Notes to answerer
Asker: Lia, you certainly did NOT fail. That's what I was looking for


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rhandler: "Tom, Dick and Harry" is a placeholder phrase referring to several randomly-selected people, not necessarily three and not necessarily all men. Veja http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Dick_And_Harry
2 mins

agree  R. Alex Jenkins
6 mins

agree  Susy Rodrigues: agree
17 mins

agree  veratek
19 mins

agree  Kemper Combs
21 mins

agree  Marcelo Gonçalves
45 mins

agree  Amy Duncan (X): This is good, too - I forgot about this one!
46 mins

agree  Carla Queiro (X)
57 mins

agree  Chiquipaisa
1 hr

agree  Paul Dixon: Definitely the best answer.
3 hrs

agree  Fernando Domeniconi
4 hrs

agree  Cristina Santos
2 days 20 hrs

agree  Lumen (X)
3 days 5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
so and so, whoseewhatsis, whatsisname, whatsername


Explanation:
These are the only ones I can think of, and they are all commonly used. Not 100% sure of the spelling, but I did find Google references with these spellings.

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Note added at 18 hrs (2007-07-20 12:29:31 GMT) Post-grading
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Humberto, I actually thought Lia's answer was better for what you wanted!

Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 14:30
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 18
Notes to answerer
Asker: Amy, you almost got it. I would have chosen you. Blame it on Lia


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Fernando Domeniconi: :) whatshisface too...
50 mins
  -> Thanks, Fernando!

agree  Isabella Becker
56 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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