the Johnsons
Family next door
The Johnsons refers to a family by their surname, used as a collective: The Johnsons are coming for dinner.
The definite article plus pluralized surname is the standard way to name a household or family unit in English.
The pattern works with any surname: the Smiths, the Garcias, the Nguyens.
- neighborsThose dwelling nearby
- sitcomEpisodic TV comedy series
- surnameHereditary family identifier
- householdDomestic unit of residents
- keeping upMaintaining pace or standard
keeping up with · next door · suburban · white picket fence · American · television · comedy · clan · relatives · dysfunction · picket fence · barbecue · block party · minivan · Jones · typical · nuclear · middle class