# Darby and Joan

idiom · Slang

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/darby-and-joan
Updated: 2026-04-28

## Meaning

moan

## Examples

- My grandparents are a classic Darby and Joan couple.
- After fifty years of marriage, they are a true Darby and Joan, rarely seen apart at the local park.
- The elderly pair lived as a devoted Darby and Joan, finding quiet contentment in their shared routines and long, peaceful walks.

## Origin

The names John Darby and his wife Joan first entered the public record in 1735. They were the subjects of a poem by Henry Woodfall, published in The Gentleman's Magazine, which established the pair as a literary shorthand for a long-married and mutually devoted couple.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.