The man on the Clapham omnibus

[Audiendus]

A recent visit to the London suburb of Clapham reminded me of this quaint British phrase. Originally a legal expression originating in the 19th century, it means 'an ordinary, reasonable person'. It is now mostly used humorously as a mock archaism. It is probably the only context in which 'omnibus' is still used in the sense of 'bus'.

I wonder if there are any equivalent expressions used elsewhere.

[Slava]

Does "see how it flies in Peoria" work?

I guess "man on the corner" is too non-specific.

[Audiendus]

Does "see how it flies in Peoria" work?

Yes, that seems to be a similar idea.

A rather different kind of character is Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells.

[brogine]

Another interesting Britishism is 'going Bodmin' - losing one's marbles. Oh, and I love 'how's your father'.

[Perry Lassiter]

Man on the street...
Flyover country (outside the DC Beltway, Midwest)
John Doe