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John Hancock

[jon han-kok]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

1737–93, American statesman: first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Informal.��a person's signature.
Put your John Hancock on this check.

John Hancock

noun

Also called: John Henry.��informal��a person's signature
put your John Hancock on this form

John Hancock

A signature: “Please help us out and put your John Hancock on our petition.” The expression refers to the bold signature that John Hancock wrote on the Declaration of Independence.

Hancock, John

A political leader of the eighteenth century. He was president of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and was the first to sign it, which he did with a large, flamboyant signature.

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A “John Hancock” is a signature.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of John Hancock¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50, so called from the boldness and legibility of John Hancock's signature

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Word History and Origins

Origin of John Hancock¹

after John _Hancock , from his clear and legible signature on the American Declaration of Independence

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Idioms and Phrases

Also, John Henry. One's signature, as in Just put your John Hancock on the dotted line. This expression alludes to John Hancock's prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. The variant simply substitutes a common name for “Hancock.” [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

But it turned out to be his John Hancock alongside a bunch of others on a whiteboard in a room facing the parking lot.

From

Matthew Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management in Boston, said the Fed will likely be in a holding pattern, with inflation moderating and a weakening labor market.

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Everyone who has looked at the September employment data is stunned, said Matt Miskin, co-investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management in Boston.

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In one video with nearly two million views, he plays a founding father who discovers John Hancock’s large signature on the Declaration of Independence.

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"Coming into this week, the market looks more vulnerable to volatility around the debt ceiling," said Matthew Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management.

From

John F. Kennedy International Airport John Henry

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