Janet and John

adjective

Childishly simple or obvious, resembling something found in a book for very young children.

“There is an instruction manual, but it's all very Janet and John.”

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Meanings

adjective
  1. UKChildishly simple or obvious, resembling something found in a book for very young children.

    There is an instruction manual, but it's all very Janet and John.

    1 more example

    Apologies if what follows seems a bit Janet and John. But if you already know it all it will at least be welcome confirmation and, if you don't, well at least someone tried to give you some genuinely well-intentioned advice.

    2014, John Hutton, Leigh Lewis, How to Be a Minister: A 21st-Century Guide

Origin

From the Janet and John series of early reading books, published in the UK in 1949–50.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Janet and John. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Janet%20and%20John

MLA

“Janet and John.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Janet%20and%20John. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Janet and John,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Janet%20and%20John.

Source: Janet and John on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.