John Hancock’s Signature

If you were given a pen and asked to put your John Hancock on a piece of paper, would you know what to do? If English isn’t your mother tongue, this could be a very perplexing request, but in the USA it’s quite normal. 

Who is John Hancock and what is a John Hancock?

First, a John Hancock is an informal reference to your signature. If I wanted your autograph, for example, or if I wanted you to sign a contract, I could ask for your John Hancock as an informal way to request your signature. 

John Hancock, the man, was a leader in the American Revolution and a politician. He was the first person to sign our Declaration of Independence in 1776, which stated that the 13 American colonies (our first states) were free from British authority.  

His signature is historically famous. Due to its boldness, large size and stylish script, John Hancock’s name is the most prominent because, according to legend, he wanted the king to be able to read it without his glasses. 

Finger fun - idioms and slang

I began my previous post with shoplifting slang, the five finger discount, to introduce the English names of our fingers. Now that we can identify our fingers in English, let’s build our finger slang and idioms.

If you’re a fan of the five finger discount (shoplifting), then you also have sticky fingers (the habit of stealing things).

A person who is involved in too many activities or projects has their finger in too many pies. Sometimes they are so overly involved that they can’t do any of them well. In this case, they probably don’t have enough time to fully participate.

On the other hand, if you’re awkward, clumsy and have difficulty fixing things or working with your hands, you are all thumbs.

What about that pinky finger, the little finger? Did you know that it can be powerful enough to have complete control over someone? When you can manipulate a person, you have them wrapped around your little finger. Who would have thought that the pinky could be so influential?

The thumb is pretty good at controlling people too. To be obedient to someone or to be controlled by someone is to be under their thumb.

To give thumbs up (or down) communicates an indication of satisfaction or approval (or of rejection or failure). Since you’re reading this post, I give you an enthusiastic thumbs up!

Swag

One of the many perks (benefits) of being a celebrity or VIP is that everyone wants to give you gifts. Those gifts are called swag.

Swag is free stuff, promotional merchandise given away by retailers, industry representatives, or manufacturers to people in high-profile positions. This is done in hopes of favorable publicity for the donors and their products.

There is no debate that swag was originally an acronym, S.W.A.G., but what do those letters stand for? Souvenirs, Wearables, And Gifts? Stuff We All Get? Whatever the origin, swag is now a word.

If you’re an artist nominated for an Academy Award, you are the toast of the film industry. (Toast here means that you are very popular or held in high regard by a particular group of people.) Not everyone can go home with an Oscar, but at least all the nominees can count on receiving an extravagant gift bag worth over $160,000. Here is what the 2015 Acadamy Award nominees received in their swag bags:

1) $12,500: A luxury outdoor vacation which includes cycling, hiking, hot air balloon rides and horseback riding.
2) $11,500: A nine-night Italian vacation package
3) $20,000: A year’s worth of car rentals from Audi
4) $1,200: A Matrone Cycling designer bike
5) $800: Candy Vixen gift certificate
6) $280: Rouge Maple package
7) $75: Ambrosia Apples
8) $20,000: Astrology reading from Enigma Life
9) A $10,000 meal donation of Halo Natural Pet Food to a shelter or rescue of the nominee’s choice
10) $5,000: A “Couples Love Shot” from "Vampire Facelift" inventor Dr. Charles Runels
11) $4,068: Ventura Liposuction
12) $270: A hot pink “slow watch”
13) $100: A Pop Dental sonic toothbrush
14) $20: A signed copy of “Archibald’s Next Big Thing” by “Veep” star Tony Hale
15) $40: Ibiza Soul flip-flops
16) $5: Dove Dry Spray Antiperspiran

You don’t have to be famous to receive swag gifts. You and I get swag too: gift bags at conventions, T-shirts, CDs, or cosmetic samples. Nothing I’ve received has ever been as luxurious as any Hollywood celebrity swag however.