the man/woman on the Clapham omnibus
A person imagined as representative of an ordinary or typical British person and their opinions, values, and habits. Primarily heard in UK. Downing Street is always trying to gauge the position of the man on the Clapham omnibus.
the man on the Clapham omnibus
BRITISHWhen people talk about the man on the Clapham omnibus, they mean ordinary, average people. The wealthy and powerful never liked the man on the Clapham omnibus knowing about their lives. Note: Clapham is an area of London, and `omnibus' is an old-fashioned word for bus.
the man on the Clapham omnibus
the average man, especially with regard to his opinions. British This expression is attributed to the English judge Lord Bowen ( 1835–94 ), who used it as a metaphor for any ordinary reasonable person—such as a juror is expected to be. Clapham is a district in south London.