whatshisname
That guy, um...
Whatshisname is a placeholder for a man's name you can't recall or don't care to specify: I ran into whatshisname from accounting.
The female equivalent is whatshername.
Both suggest the person is forgettable or that their identity doesn't much matter.
Also spelled what's-his-name.
Placeholder for forgotten name
- forgettableUnlikely to be recalled
- unimportantLacking significance or weight
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
- unmemorableNot worth recalling
Stand-in for forgotten names
- thingamajigPlaceholder for unnamed objects
- so-and-soPlaceholder for someone unspecified
- whositPlaceholder for forgotten name
- blankingErasing or forgetting
Relating to informal dialogue
- informalRelaxed, not official
- offhandCasually unrehearsed
- colloquialCasual, everyday language
- breezyMildly windy, or nonchalant
chitchat · small-talk · vernacular · relaxed · folksy · easygoing · unscripted
Placeholder for someone unspecified
- whatshisfacePlaceholder for forgotten name
- such-and-suchVague placeholder phrase
- fill-in-the-blankExercise requiring word insertion
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
substitute · generic · anonymous · unspecified · unnamed · thingamabob · whoever
whatshisface
Placeholder for forgotten name
- forgettableUnlikely to be recalled
- unimportantLacking significance or weight
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
unmemorable · interchangeable · disposable · irrelevant · ordinary
whatchamacallit
Stand-in for forgotten names
- thingamajigPlaceholder for unnamed objects
- so-and-soPlaceholder for someone unspecified
- whositPlaceholder for forgotten name
conversational
Relating to informal dialogue
- informalRelaxed, not official
- offhandCasually unrehearsed
- colloquialCasual, everyday language
breezy · chitchat · small-talk · vernacular · relaxed · folksy · easygoing · unscripted
so-and-so
Placeholder for someone unspecified
- whatshisfacePlaceholder for forgotten name
- such-and-suchVague placeholder phrase
- fill-in-the-blankExercise requiring word insertion
stand-in · substitute · generic · anonymous · unspecified · unnamed · thingamabob · whoever
- placeholdersplaceholder, bar, blank, dummy, filler
- peoplepeople, persons, person, individuals, humans
- thingamajigsthingamajig, thingamabob, whatchamacallit, doohickey, doodad
- You-Know-WhoVoldemort
whatshisnameproper name
Individual's official identifier
full name · by name · given name · specifically · John Smith